Oswego to Host 2026 Upstate New York Seafood Summit

Annual event to bring together freshwater fishers, aquaculture producers, processors, chefs, food safety experts, and researchers

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:18pm

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The 2026 Upstate New York Seafood Summit will be held on April 9, 2026 at the Oswego Public Library in Oswego, New York. The annual event is designed to encourage cross-collaboration among various seafood industry stakeholders, including fishermen, aquaculture producers, retailers, processors, chefs, and researchers.

Why it matters

The Seafood Summit series helps guide New York Sea Grant's programming to provide relevant research, education, and extension resources to the seafood industry in the state's upstate freshwater regions. The event also supports networking and discussions that can lead to new partnerships and initiatives within the industry.

The details

The 2026 Summit will feature presentations and discussions on topics such as food safety, research, and industry updates from organizations like the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Health, and New York Sea Grant. SUNY Oswego Assistant Professor Ellen Karboski will share highlights from a collaboration between the university and a local fish processor to provide Great Lakes species for student fisheries research. Chef Jeff Deloff of Touche' in Syracuse will also offer a culinary industry perspective, and Cornell Cooperative Extension's Moira Tidball will demonstrate how to prepare yellow perch shrimp cocktail.

  • The 2026 Upstate New York Seafood Summit will be held on April 9, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The players

New York Sea Grant

A statewide, university-based program that connects research, outreach, and education to the needs of New York's coastal communities, environments, and economies. It is a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York.

Ellen Karboski, Ph.D.

An Assistant Professor at SUNY Oswego whose research focus is on Great Lakes-native fish ecology. She will share highlights from a collaboration between SUNY Oswego and a local fish processor to provide Great Lakes species for student fisheries research.

Jeff Deloff

The chef at the French bistro Touche' in Syracuse, New York, who will offer a food industry professional's view in a Culinary Connection segment of the program.

Moira Tidball

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County Executive Director and nutritionist who will demonstrate how to make yellow perch shrimp cocktail and talk about wild fish preparation techniques, recipes, and nutrition information.

Tom Allen

A local fish processor who is collaborating with SUNY Oswego to provide Great Lakes species for student fisheries research.

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What they’re saying

“Seafood Summit topics respond to stakeholder needs and have ranged from production, marketing, packaging and food safety to fisheries sustainability, workforce development, and connecting with supply chain buyers and the culinary industry.”

— Michael Ciaramella, Ph.D., Seafood Safety and Technology Specialist, New York Sea Grant

What’s next

The 2026 Upstate New York Seafood Summit is expected to feature food safety, research, and industry update presentations from various state and industry organizations, as well as a culinary demonstration and discussion.

The takeaway

The Seafood Summit series helps guide New York Sea Grant's programming to provide relevant resources to the seafood industry, while also supporting networking and collaboration that can lead to new partnerships and initiatives within the industry.