Mr Whitehead said: “I’m delighted that Michel has been appointed as deputy chairman. Michel has already served more than two years as a board member and brings to the post a wealth of knowledge on fisheries and the marine environment.”

Michel Kaiser has served on the Seafish Board for two and a half years, appointed by the Welsh Assembly Government as an independent Board member. A professor in the School of Ocean Sciences at the University of Bangor, he specialises in the field of marine benthic ecology

In addition, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Ministers in the devolved administrations have also announced that Mr Chris Pomfret has been appointed as an interim independent member of the Seafish Board until 31 March 2012.  Mr Pomfret has held senior roles at key companies in the food industry, including Birds Eye in the UK. He was also responsible for promoting the Captain Birds Eye brand in Europe.

Extensions for four other Seafish Board members have also been announced. Mr Whitehead’s term as interim Chair of the Seafish Board has been extended to 31 March 2012; and the appointments of Mrs Linda Cross and Mr Mike Park have been extended until 31 March 2012. Mr Iain MacSween’s term has been extended until December 2011.

Seafish Chief Executive, Dr Paul Williams, said the new appointments will ensure stability for Seafish over the period leading up to the Supreme Court case.The hearing follows a successful High Court appeal last March by the now collapsed British Seafood group which ruled that companies need not pay the levy on imported fish. This resulted in Seafish losing over half its income, but it has warned companies that if it wins the case it will seek to recover the 'lost' income.