|
To all of our friends and families that have been affected by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our thoughts and prayers are
with you.
Since Katrina we have been diligently working: from
coordinating the first-ever, joint Louisiana Seafood Board and
Louisiana Oyster Task Force meeting to assess and
address needs, to industry members briefing congressional
delegates in D.C., to responding to just about every major
media outlet in the nation, and to dealing with crisis issues
surrounding these unbelievable events. We will continue
working closely with the industry, state and federal
government agencies, and our friends in the restaurant
industry to support and rebuild our great culture and
heritage.
We would like to thank Mark Schexnayder with the LSU
AgExtension Service for graciously offering the Seafood
Board temporary office space in Jefferson Parish. We would
love to here from you; our new temporary number is
504-838-1170.
Sincerely,
Ewell Smith
Executive Director
Louisiana Seafood Marketing Board
|
|
SEAFOOD SAFETY BRIEFING |
 |
The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has
worked diligently with Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries, and LSU"s AgCenter Department of Food Science to
address seafood safety.
On September 30 a press conference was held at the Office
of Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge to provide
information on the quality and safety of Louisiana seafood in
Lake Pontchartrain and surrounding waters.
Dr. Jimmy Guidry, Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals, announced that no levels of concern for toxic
chemicals were found in the flood waters and no fish
consumption advisories were warranted.
Top state scientists addressed the local and national media at
the conference and answered questions.
For video of the press conference and links to related science
sites, click
www.wildamericanshrimp.com/news
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama water quality and public
health experts issue a joint statement that the seafood is
safe. For the full release, visit
www.LouisianaSeafood.com
NOAA tests Gulf waters for bacteria, pesticides and other
contaminants. Results look good. For full story, visit
www.noaa.gov
|
|
FISHERIES DECLARATION OF DISASTER |
|
U.S. senators Mary Landrieu and Mark Vitter submitted a
request to Congress for $250 billion for recovery of
Louisiana.
The bill includes line items for recreational and commercial
fisheries including shrimp, oysters and the other key sectors
of the seafood industry.
The Louisiana oyster industry is especially challenged as so
many acres of oysters are silted over. Louisiana Oyster Task
Force Chairman Mike Voisin visited D.C. on September 18
and said he participated in briefings on Louisiana"s fisheries
disaster at offices of 15 Gulf Coast congressional delegates.
The response was "amazing," Voisin said. National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Vice Admiral
Conrad Lautenbacher, Ph.D. and NMFS Director Bill Hogarth
were also very
supportive. He added, "We were summoned to the White
House
where we were met with open arms!"
Stay posted for developments on this important effort.
|
|
SEAFOOD INDUSTRY BRIEFING |
|
Leaders of the Louisiana seafood industry delivered a status
report on September 9, 2005 to local and national press at
the Office of Emergency Preparedness and a strong intent to
rise above the difficulty.
LSPMB Chairman Harlon Pearce proclaimed, "We are strong
and we are committed to Louisiana seafood and promise a
healthy and vibrant seafood community will return to this
state."
|
|
MEETING OF THE MINDS |
|
The LSPMB and the Louisiana Oyster Task Force invited
legislators, resource leaders, fishermen and processors to
regroup and take stock in the wake of Katrina at LDWF
headquarters in Baton Rouge on September 15.
Honored guests included U.S. Congressman Charles
Melancon, Scott Kirkpatrick of the governor"s office, Dr. Ken
Roberts of LSU, LDWF Secretary Dwight Landreneau, J.W.
Rally of the Senate Natural Resource Committee, Su King of
the Department of Natural Resources and Corky Perret of
Mississippi Marine Fisheries.
John Roussel of LDWF reported that "the heart of the seafood
industry took a direct hit. The resource will recover; nature
takes care of itself."
LDWF program managers Patrick Banks and Marty Bourgeois
reported on the status of oysters and shrimp. DEQ addressed
water quality in Lake Pontchartrain.
For updates on the molluscan shellfish program call the
24
hour hotline 1-800-256-2775. As always,
openings and
closures are posted at
www.issc.org
|
|
QUEEN SNAPPER |
|
Courtesy of Jerald Horst, LSU AgCenter
Deep in the Gulf of Mexico near the edge of the continental
shelf, commercial fishermen sometimes find the beauty of the
snapper family. The queen snapper can"t be missed: a deep
pink body, a brilliant red and deeply forked tail, and very large
red eyes. For more select the September 1, 2005 issue of
Lagniappe and scroll down to Ball Bat.
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS |
|
October 26 Louisiana Seafood Board
meets in Metairie. For more information contact Victoria
Zachary at 504-838-1172.
October Fisherman, family, processors: The
United States Small Business Administration provides small
business loans and other services that may be of use. Look
for workshop dates in Louisiana. Visit
www.sba.gov
|
|
FOOD IN PRINT |
|
LOUISIANA IS COOKING
Make your life more delicious with Louisiana Cookin'
magazine. For subscription info and recipes, click on
www.louisianacookin.com
|
|
DOWNSTREAM YOUR CYBERFISH |
|
Don't forget to e-mail Louisiana Cyber Fish to
fishermen and other wholesalers and interested folks. We'll
send them their own copy. All they need to do is sign in at
www.LouisianaSeafood.com/Industry
|
|
ABOUT US |
|
The Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board was
formed by the 1984 Louisiana Legislature. The Board is
empowered to take any marketing or educational action
necessary to improve the well being of the seafood
industry -- while maintaining wise management of
the state's fishery resources. The Board is a program funded
through the LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Louisiana Seafood Board
at LSU AgCenter
6640 Riverside Drive, Suite 200
Metairie, LA 70003
504-838-1172
|
