TALLAHASSEE — "We're in business, but we need you." That's the message being promoted on behalf of Florida's commercial fishermen in a television public service announcement that begins airing in the Panhandle Gulf coast region later this week.
The television spot was produced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to help counter the mistaken public perception that Florida seafood is unavailable or in limited supply.
"The extensive news coverage of the Gulf oil spill has left some consumers with the impression that Florida seafood is unavailable or in limited supply," Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said. "Our state's commercial fishermen continue to harvest seafood daily from clean, unaffected Florida waters. They have seafood products to sell, and they need customers. This television public service announcement will help get out the message that Florida seafood is safe, plentiful and available."
The 60-second spot will begin airing July 9 in Pensacola, Panama City and Tallahassee. The video can be viewed online at http://www.FL-Seafood.com/WeNeedYou. From that page, visitors can click through to visit the http://www.FL-Seafood.com home page to access an abundance of information about Florida seafood and aquaculture.
"This website features an array of interesting and useful information," Bronson said. "I encourage everyone to take advantage of this user-friendly resource to learn more about our state's important seafood and aquaculture resources."
Currently, the website homepage features the latest information about the Gulf oil spill categorized in six main sections:
It's Safe: View Gulf Regulatory and Monitoring Activities
– This section features links to websites of agencies involved in monitoring water quality and ensuring the safety of Gulf seafood products, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and others.
It's Plentiful: See Where Florida Seafood is Harvested
– This section features a chart showing which Florida seafood products are in season during the months of the year. Also included is a map showing the areas where seafood species are harvested off Florida's coasts.
It's Available: Find Where Florida Seafood is Sold
– This section features an extensive list of seafood retail markets throughout the state, as well as restaurants that serve Florida seafood. Grocery retailers and online and mail-order sellers of seafood are also included.
Sea For Yourself: View Florida Seafood Webcams
– This section provides links to webcams that have been set up at seafood retail markets and restaurants in the Panhandle Gulf coast region. Currently webcams are online at Southern Seafood Market in Tallahassee, Joe Patti's Seafood Company in Pensacola, Dewey Destin's Seafood and Restaurant in Destin, Goatfeathers Seafood in Santa Rosa Beach, and the Blue Parrot in St. Joe Island.
Hear the Fishermen: Interviews With Gulf Coast Harvesters
– This section features audio interviews conducted by telephone with some of Florida's commercial fishermen talking about the seafood products they harvest.
Get the Latest: Hear Today's Florida Seafood Hotline Update
– This section provides consumers with current information about the status of Florida's open and closed fishing harvest areas, the availability of seafood varieties, and general pricing information. The hotline can also be reached toll-free by dialing 1-800-357-4273.
The website also contains information about Florida seafood and aquaculture, including recipes, nutritional information, food safety and handling tips, seafood festivals and many other items of interest. Characteristics and illustrations of Florida's top seafood species are also featured, and numerous videos about the state's seafood and aquaculture industry are available for viewing and download.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services