Natasha Novikova
Natasha Novikova, the visionary behind ForSea Solutions (FSS) founded in 2016, brings a more personalized and client-focused consultative practice to companies adopting responsible fishery management practices and providing sustainable seafood for the marketplace. Her multifaceted expertise spans over two decades, incorporating organizational leadership, adept contract negotiations, and effective project management, underpinned by her cross-cultural awareness, and bilingual expertise in English and Russian. Natasha’s global approach has significantly contributed to the seafood industry's sustainability and social responsibility, particularly through pioneering fishery improvements and facilitating market integration. Her active engagement in Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) site visits and surveillance audits since 2015 has been critical in ensuring client fisheries adhere to MSC's rigorous standards. Natasha expertly manages MSC fishery and Chain of Custody certifications and Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) for key species like salmon, cod, and pollock in the Kamchatka and Sakhalin regions, alongside West Coast Dungeness crab fisheries in the US, extending her influence to over 40 clients worldwide. Her accomplishments include completing the Social Responsibility Assessment (SRA), MSC Level 1 and 2 Capacity Building Training, and tackling the challenges of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing during her presentations at MSC workshops focused on Principle 3 (Effective Fisheries Management). Before founding ForSea Solutions, she made substantial contributions as the Russia Program Manager at Ocean Outcomes, Portland. Natasha is an alumna of the State Academic University for the Humanities in Moscow, with further studies in human rights at Columbia University, New York.