GSI joins Gulf groups to walk Congressional halls for Gulf Seafood

by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor

High heels and wingtips clicking and clacking through the marble halls of Congress, a constant buzz of voices bouncing off Gulf Senators and Representatives office walls, hands continuously pressing the flesh and passing paper after paper; these are the sights and sounds of the Gulf Seafood Institute’s (GSI) second annual “Walk on the Hill” in the nation’s Capitol.

Members of the Gulf Seafood Institute visit with 

La. Senator David Vitter in his D.C. office. GSI members 

represent seafood interests in all five Gulf States. 

(L-R) Stan Harris of the La. Restaurant Assoc., 

Harlon Pearce of Harlon’s LA Fish, GSI Executive Director 

Margaret Henderson, seafood processor Frank Randol, 

Jim Gossen who is chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafood, 

Senator David Vitter, David Krebs of Arial Seafoods 

and charter boat Captain Troy Frady. 

GSI joined with the Gulf Oyster Industry Council (GOIC) and other Gulf seafood groups to meet with the entire Gulf Congressional Delegation, resulting in a long schedule comprised of nearly 30 meetings total.

“The Gulf Seafood Institute meets regularly with Congressmen and staff, as well as various executive agencies and non-governmental organizations, to educate them on the needs and concerns of the Gulf’s diverse seafood communities,” said GSI’s executive director Margaret Henderson while walking a hallway of the Longworth building. “This annual event gives us the opportunity to communicate face-to-face issues facing Gulf seafood. It is important to every fisherman, processor, distributor, chef and restaurateur in the five Gulf States to have those representing us in Washington knowledgeable on the effects of legislation they initiate.”

According to Henderson, GSI has led the way in uniting the various Gulf groups and giving them a voice they have never had before. The politics of seafood crosses many boundaries: federal, state, local and private. The organization’s walk on Capitol Hill is one of its many programs to keep legislators and government officials aware of the needs of the Gulf’s various fishing communities.

“We have access to some of the greatest seafood in the world and we want to keep that access open to both commercial and recreational fishermen,” said Harlon Pearce owner of Harlon’s LA Fish and president of GSI’s board. “These meetings are designed to show those creating the politics of seafood how important it is to have proper and effective legislation and programs in place.”

Important Issues

In a prepared packet hand delivered to each office, GSI has outline three important issues immediately important for Gulf of Mexico seafood:

Proposed Gulf of Mexico Oyster Mega-Hatcheries

Extended drought conditions in the Gulf States, along with poor water quality, eroding coastlines, Gulf dead zones and the consequences of the Deepwater Horizon spill on living
marine resources such as oysters, have created a unique opportunity to rethink
how the Gulf of Mexico oyster habitat is created and restored. The aim of two proposed Gulf of Mexico oyster mega hatcheries is to enhance the public stock oyster reefs in all five Gulf States, as well as create new habitat resulting in a cleaner Gulf.

NMFS Implementation of Electronic Data Collection for Charter For Hire Sector

According to NOAA, the Gulf charter-for-hire and private angler components of the recreational sector support 460,000 angler trips targeting and catching red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico annually. The fishery directly supports 759 jobs, generates $113 million in business sales and contributes $64 million to the national economy. It is an extremely important economic driver for the region, but must be managed carefully to ensure longevity of the species, and the communities and businesses that depend on it.

Currently, management of the recreational red snapper sector in the Gulf is in turmoil. Based on the “best available science” and data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), fishery managers have shortened the recreational red snapper season length drastically in recent years, culminating in a 9-day season in 2014. Real-time data is critical to better understand the status of the fishery and provide fishery managers with adequate tools to make the best decisions for the resource and fishermen.

Congress is urged to communicate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) directing them to utilize recently appropriated funds to roll out a robust electronic data collection program in Gulf of Mexico charter community in time for the 2015 red snapper season this June. 

H2B Migrant Worker Legislation

Seafood processors along the Gulf coast rely on temporary, seasonal foreign workers admitted to the U.S. under the H-2B Visa program to fill the most labor-intensive positions in the industry. The work done by these skilled laborers is necessary to support thousands of seafood jobs held by U.S. workers. Because of the unique nature of the seafood occupation and the rural location of many processors, the seafood industry has used Private Wage Surveys for more than 15 years to set their wage rate, often relying on State agency-provided wage surveys.

In December of 2014, the Department of Labor announced they would no longer accept PWS in determining wages for H-2B visa workers.

Current Department of Labor rules governing this program threaten the viability of various Gulf seafood communities that rely on temporary, foreign H-2B visa workers. These workers in oyster, crawfish and crab processing fill jobs that American workers refuse to do.

Congress should sign a letter to Labor Secretary Perez and support language in FY 2016 appropriations bills directing the DOL to continue accepting private wage surveys for H-2B visa workers in the seafood industry.

New GSI Executive Director Margaret Henderson, an influential voice for the Gulf

The Gulf of Mexico seafood community is gaining Margaret Henderson,
one of the strongest seafood legislative advocates on Capitol Hill, as
the new voice for the Gulf. 

The Gulf of Mexico seafood community is losing Ewell Smith, one of the principal leaders responsible for bringing the Gulf seafood brand back from the brink of disaster, but gaining Margaret Henderson, one of the strongest seafood legislative advocates on Capitol Hill, as the new voice for the Gulf as the Executive Director of the Gulf Seafood Institute.

Stepping down from his role with GSI, Smith said, “It has been an honor to consult with the leadership of GSI since its inception and work side-by side with some of the Gulf’s most influential leaders. We have made great strides in gaining a national profile during these initial months. The next phase of growth is critical for the industry, I recommended Margaret to lead GSI’s efforts going forward. Having worked with her on seafood advocacy issues for almost a decade, I know firsthand her passion and extensive knowledge of the industry; abilities that will continue to help our fishing communities across the Gulf.”

An Influential Voice in Washington

Henderson is the current owner of Miami’s Henderson Strategies, Inc., a government relations consulting firm specializing in federal outreach and issue advocacy. Since 2011, Henderson has worked with numerous Gulf-focused seafood groups including: the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, the Gulf Oyster Industry Council, the Louisiana Oyster Task Force and the Friends of the Fishermen Foundation.

Before venturing out on her own, she was the Vice President of Government Relations for the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), a seafood trade association advocating on behalf of over 300 seafood firms. During her time at NFI, she worked closely with former NFI Chairman Mike Voisin, a renowned Gulf seafood champion, to help ensure the Gulf seafood community received more than 100 million in federal emergency appropriations following the 2005 disastrous hurricane season.

“While I wish it were under different circumstances, I had the privilege of working hand-in-hand with some of the Gulf coast’s leading seafood champions to obtain the much needed relief for the seafood community following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav,” said Henderson. “We’ve come a long way since 2005, I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue my work with this great group of folks to this day.”

The Florida native has also served time on Capitol Hill working as the Legislative Director for Nevada Congressman Jim Gibbons.

“During Ewell’s tenure with our organization, he was instrumental in helping establish relationships with new partners as we strived to strengthen the Gulf,” said Jim Gossen, a GSI board member and chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafood. “Margaret’s knowledge of Washington, as well as her legislative contacts, will ensure that GSI will remain a strong voice in the Gulf fisheries management arena.

On The Front Lines of Fisheries Policy

Henderson has been on the front lines of fisheries policy for nearly a decade and is known for being at the table when important bills are written, including the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act. As GSI’s key policy strategist, she has put her experience to good use by spearheading the organization’s efforts on the current reauthorization of this landmark legislation, resulting in great successes in both the Senate and House bills.

”Our delegation in Washington has been waiting a long time for a group like GSI to bring all facets of our diverse seafood community together under one umbrella,” she explained on why GSI’s role is so well received in the nations capitol. “With so many critical issues facing our industry right now, we’ve become the go-to group for policymakers looking for consensus from across the Gulf and from the entire supply chain. I’m excited to continue speaking for GSI on these issues and I’m ready for what the future holds.”

The doors on both sides of the aisle are always open for the new GSI president; politicians from both parties recognize her expertise in the Gulf and its seafood.

“Our domestic seafood industry benefits from Margaret’s breadth of experience with both Gulf Coast stakeholders and national policymakers,” said Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. “The gulf seafood community has faced serious challenges in recent years with both natural and man-made disasters severely impacting the supply chain. Gulf coast fishermen and the restaurants that depend on them need an effective voice for their industry, and I look forward to working with Margaret to preserve and promote healthy and sustainable fisheries throughout the Gulf.”

The mission of the Gulf Seafood Institute is to protect the Gulf’s unique culture and environment while elevating the Gulf seafood brand with consumers, customers and policy leaders through advocacy, education and science. It represents every Gulf state as well as every aspect of the industry – both commercial and recreational – and is positioned to be a leading voice on key issues including sustainability, seafood safety, disaster mitigation and recovery, and data collection.

“Margaret has been responsible for GSI taking a leadership role for Gulf fisheries in upcoming legislation. Without her effort our organization would not have had the opportunity to testify on such important issues as Gulf Red Snapper and Magnuson Stevens,” said Harlon Pearce, GSI’s chairman and owner of Harlon’s LA Fish in New Orleans. “Within a very short time she has become a well-respected spokeswoman on the Hill for the Gulf of Mexico and GSI. Margaret is the definitely the right person for the job, and now is the time.”

Misinformation spreads in war of words over Gulf Red Snapper allocation

Misinformation has spread in both traditional and online media about the current proposed Red Snapper allocation change under consideration by the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA), as well as the four other Gulf State restaurant associations, have come under fire for allegedly playing an integral role in lining up against the recreational fishermen in favor of letting commercial fishermen ship “as much as 80 percent of the commercial red snapper harvest out of the country.”

The source of the misinformation has yet to be identified, but it has rapidly spread from Louisiana to Florida to Kansas City to Capitol Hill.

According to a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), fishery trade categories are based on Harmonized Tariff Schedule for imports and the US Census Bureau ‘Schedule B’ for exports. Currently, there is no specific breakout for Red Snapper due to the lack of individual trade data because international exports are so small. As a result Red Snapper trade is listed in the ‘other’ category, not separated out.

Where does Gulf Red Snapper go?

A majority of Gulf Red Snapper ends up on the plates of more than 56 million residents of the Gulf States, as well as millions more on the East Coast.

“We are on target to buy more than a million pounds, or 20 percent, of the total Gulf Red Snapper harvest,” said Houston-based Sysco Louisiana Seafood chairman Jim Gossen, who sits on the board of the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI). “We sell 99.5 percent of that to our customers within the state of Texas, and none is shipped overseas.”

The percentage of Gulf Red Snapper leaving the country is less than five percent, with a majority of that going to Montreal and Toronto, which has a craving for the prized Gulf seafood.

“I ship approximately 70,000 pounds of red snapper to Canada over the course of a year,” said GSI’s board member David Krebs, president of Florida’s Ariel Seafood, a Fish Trax member and one of the largest suppliers of snapper out of country. “Because of transportation restrictions, the fish is mainly enjoyed on the East Coast and Gulf States. Less than five percent of the total catch leaves the country.”

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council is currently considering Reef Fish Amendment No. 28, Chapter 2—Management Alternatives. The amendment alters traditional allocation of red snapper between the commercial fishing industry and the recreational fishermen.

Two alternatives are currently before the Council on the issue of allocation.

Alternative 1 is based on an aggregate red snapper quota of 11 million pounds; commercial fishermen would be allocated 5.610 million and recreational fishermen 5.390 million, effectively keeping the current 51/49 split.

The Council has thrown its support behind Alternative 5, which would shift allocation percentages to 75 percent recreational and 25 percent commercial for aggregate red snapper quota greater than 9.12 million pounds.

Based on an aggregate red snapper quota of 11 million pounds, commercial fishermen would be allocated 5.126 million and recreational 5.874 million, effective reducing commercial share by approximately eight percent, or more than 500,000 pounds.

Stan Harris

The LRA, along with the Texas Restaurant Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association and the Alabama Restaurant Association, has thrown support for the Gulf Council to adopt Alternative 1 that would keep the current split ratio. None of the Gulf Restaurant Associations favor taking away any current quota from recreational fishermen. In addition, the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board passed a resolution encouraging the Gulf Council to adopt Alternative 1.  

“Our organization has been sensitive to the inconsistencies in recreational red snapper management practices and its impact on the recreational and charter segments,” said Stan Harris, LRA President/CEO. “Our testimony before the Gulf Council implored council members to consider that any increase in total catch allocation retain the same 51/49 sector breakdown that currently exists. The LRA is not opposing “the recreational sector,” just simply asking for maintaining these historical percentages.”

According to the Gulf Council documents, the recreational sector has exceeded its catch limit six out of the last seven years; with the only year not being exceeded was during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In addition, the National Marine Fisheries Service, as well as the Gulf Council, has continuously failed to provide an accurate count of the recreational harvest.

Unlike the commercial sector, which counts each fish caught, the recreational sector has continuously refused to participate in any type of program that would accurately log the exact numbers caught.

A recent report published by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a D.C. lobbyist and advocacy group representing approximately 400,000 saltwater fishermen, stated there are approximately 11 million recreational saltwater fishermen in the U.S. – roughly the population of New York and Los Angeles. Of those less than half a million are directly represented by any recreational saltwater fishing organization.

Recreational sidesteps data collection

Recreational fishing organizations have refused efforts to accurately record the recreational catch by inferring data collection is already in place.

Federal recreational saltwater fisheries are open access. A fisherman, owning a dingy or a yacht, needs only a license to fish in federal waters; there is no accountability, or enforcement. Commercial fishermen in the same waters are held to a different standard, accurately monitoring their catch and subject to enforcement.

Recreational side monitoring only occurs in state waters where catch times, slot and bag limits are often set. These state programs are the basis of the claim that recreational catch is being monitored.

Recreational groups have also cited the economic impact of recreational fishermen as a reason for increasing catch limits. Tens of thousands of recreational anglers annually venture into the five Gulf States.

The Gulf States restaurant associations have been charged with protecting the interests of their residents, as well as the millions of visitors venturing into the five Gulf States to dine upon the same species recreational anglers prize.

Culinary tourism is a rapidly growing industry for all Gulf States. According to a recently released report from the Louisiana Office of Tourism under Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, culinary tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors. More than 75 percent of tourists visiting Louisiana alone come for the seafood.

“They are coming to enjoy not only our unique preparations, but also the great Gulf fish we offer in our restaurants,” said Harris.

The fight over red snapper between the commercial and recreational sectors has to stop, but so does the spread of misinformation. The question remains, how to make it happen? 

Gulf Seafood Institute names Ewell Smith Interim Executive Director

The Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI), a leading voice for the Gulf of Mexico and the seafood it produces, has a new Interim Executive Director. Ewell Smith, former executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, will immediately assume the interim leadership role.

GSI represents all aspects of the industry. Its mission is to protect the Gulf’s unique culture and environment while elevating the Gulf seafood brand with consumers, consumers, customers and policy leaders through advocacy, education and science. Its board represents every Gulf state as well as every aspect of the industry—both commercial and recreational—and is positioned to be a leading voice on key issues including sustainability, seafood safety, and disaster mitigation and recovery, and data collection.

“I am excited to once again be involved with Gulf fisheries as the Interim Executive Director of the GSI, and to help them grow their mission,” said Smith, who led Louisiana’s state seafood board for more than 12 years. “I am humbled to have this opportunity, given the depth and level of leadership experience of the board comprised of fishery leaders from each of the five Gulf States.”

Smith was instrumental in establishing marketing events that gave Louisiana seafood worldwide exposure. Smith worked closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the Great American Seafood Cook Off, seen on PBS and the Food Network. In addition, the Louisiana Seafood Cool Off, the Oyster Eating Challenge, the Louisiana Seafood Festival and signature “Po-boy Builds” at the Super Bowl and White House garnered billions of media impressions during his tenure.

Smith said, “It is particularly exciting for me that the Louisiana Restaurant Association and Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association have become strategic partners in the advancement of Gulf seafood. Their combined voices give our seafood leaders and communities the ability to leverage collective efforts representing two of the Gulf’s most co-dependent and important sectors that translate into tens of thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars in income for state and local governments.”

“Ewell’s team took a local grassroots program and grew it to a national level,” said GSI board member Stan Harris, President/CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. “He pulled the LRA into the fold by putting the spotlight on our chefs and restaurateurs. It became a win-win for the state’s fishing communities and chefs; as national media embraced the message of ‘cooking with Louisiana seafood’.”

At the Louisiana Seafood Board, Smith led market development, promotional activities and educational outreach for all of Louisiana’s seafood products, leading them into international prominence. 

Read more here. 

GSI testifies before Senate subcommittee on role of certification in sustainable fishing

A strong voice for the Gulf seafood communities in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida has presented written testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard on the topic of third-party sustainability certification of U.S. seafood, as well as its impact on the seafood community, consumers and the marketplace.

The Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI) has testified the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should be held responsible for maintaining the strongest, clearest voices and maintaining final authority in determining the sustainability of fisheries, as well as the responsibility in communicating that message to consumers.

With a mission to protect the Gulf’s unique culture and environment, GSI is working to elevate the Gulf seafood brand with consumers, customers and policy leaders through advocacy, education and science.

The Institute represents every Gulf state, as well as every aspect of the industry – both commercial and recreational – and has become one of the leading voices on key issues including sustainability, seafood safety, disaster mitigation and recovery, and data collection.

One of its main missions is to bolster fisheries science and research helping to preserve the Gulf seafood resource and contribute to the longevity of the industry. Formed in July 2013, it is currently organizing under the laws of the state of Louisiana, and seeking approval of the Internal Revenue Service for 501(c)(6) status.

“When it comes to ensuring the sustainability of our nation’s fisheries, GSI supports the process outlined under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act because it is working,” said Harlon Pearce, who was instrumental in bringing together seafood leaders to form GSI, and owner of Harlon’s LA Fish in New Orleans. “The Department of Commerce, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils work together to monitor, manage and enforce a program that has led the United States to its position as a global leader in responsibly managed fisheries and sustainable seafood.”

Standards of Sustainability
Currently the federal agencies overseeing fisheries are guided by Ten National standards of sustainability. Together these agencies monitor, manage and legally enforce all marine fisheries in the United States under the most restrictive regulations in the world.