Organized to preserve the culture and character of the seafood industry in the Gulf of Mexico and provide public education training that supports and promotes the high standards of its vast commercial and recreational fisheries, the reorganized Gulf Seafood Foundation has announced a new Board of Directors comprised of seafood, education and communication industry leaders from across the country.
Seafood is a driving force in the development of the Gulf’s fast growing culinary tourism industry, as well as a centerpiece of its historic culture. It has grown from a subsistence economy to a world-class operation, but faces daily challenges in the marketplace and environmentally. The organization works with the seafood community, restaurateurs, tourism, petroleum and others to ensure the safety and availability of Gulf seafood, as well as increased economic value for the brand.
During the BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy of 2010, the Friends of the Fishermen Foundation, the predecessor of the Gulf Seafood Foundation, was created as a non-profit organization to support Gulf fisherman and the industry during troubled times.
After five disasters impacted the Gulf Coast and its fishing community, the Friends of the Fishermen had a mandate to strengthen and revitalize the Gulf seafood industry, identify threats and execute strategic plans to successfully navigate troubled waters. The Gulf Seafood Foundation is committed to continue the important work of its predecessor.
“If you haven’t heard of us yet, you will in the near future,” said newly elected President Jim Gossen, Chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafood in Houston, TX. “The Gulf Seafood Foundation is a Gulf-wide non-profit with emphasis on the areas of science and education. Membership is open to all wishing to support the Gulf’s vital seafood industry that has become the engine driving the regions growing tourism industry.”
Comprised of a diverse membership, the organization strives to be a unified, proactive and positive voice to promote interests vital to the economy of the Gulf, as well address environmental issues and actions affecting the region. Its mission is to be the voice of reason in finding solutions to a wide variety of important issues the area faces.
Current Gulf Seafood Foundation projects include:
* Aquaculture – expanding U.S. aquaculture in the Gulf complements wild harvest fisheries and supports efforts to maintain sustainable fisheries and resilient oceans.
* Coastal Restoration – Preserving, protecting, and restoring natural resources is an integral part of the Foundations efforts to foster resilience in Gulf communities nationwide. These projects reflect an earnest commitment to the Gulf and will enhance the region’s economic, social, and ecological resilience in the future.
* Resource Management – In recent years, members of the Gulf Seafood Foundation has provided advice on the climate science strategy, the Endangered Species Act, aquaculture policy and research, recreational fishing policies, Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization topics, sustainable seafood certification, ocean policy, as well as catch share issues.
* Habitat and Estuaries – The Foundation works to restore reefs and shoreline habitat across the Gulf, as well as protect existing estuaries.
“With its incredible biological diversity, the Gulf of Mexico has been described as the ‘rainforest of the ocean’”, explained Frank Randol, owner of Randol’s Restaurant and Seafood Processing in Louisiana and Secretary for the Foundation. “The Gulf, however, lacks natural reefs and coral found in other oceans. One important project of the Gulf Seafood Foundation is partnering with members of the Gulf petroleum industry to turn decommissioned offshore oil and petroleum rigs into artificial reefs in the Gulf to compensate for the lack of natural reefs.”
In addition, the organization is on the forefront of establishing vitally needed new aquaculture in the Gulf to supply not only the United States, but also the world with a sustainable food source that if done properly has less environmental impact than other forms of agriculture.
According to Harlon Pearce, the Foundation’s Vice-President and a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, interest in Gulf Aquaculture has grown substantially since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) opened the door for expansion of aquaculture in well-defined federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
The newly reorganized 501(c)(3) non-profit will work closely with its sister organization, Gulf Seafood Institute, a 501(c)(6) advocating on behalf of the Gulf seafood community and its consumers.
“The Gulf Seafood Foundation will work closely with the Gulf Seafood Institute in order to better serve every aspect of the Gulf seafood,” said North Carolina Board Member Ed Lallo, CEO of Newsroom Ink and Partner Lallo Communications and the former Media Relations and Editorial Director of GSI. “These respected organizations together can leverage various levels of support to a broad base of stakeholders. The Foundation is the perfect compliment to the services offered by GSI.”
Other members named to the new board include: Jennifer Jenkins, Treasurer, Manager of Crystal Seas Seafood in Mississippi; Raz Halili, General Manager of Prestige Oysters in Texas; Ewell Smith, former Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board in Louisiana; Joanne McNeely-Zaritsky, Mareting Director for Captains Fine Foods in Florida and Geoff Stewart, Asociate Professor of Marketing, Moody College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Source: The Gulf Seafood Foundation