The Gulf of Mexico supply’s nearly a third of the domestic seafood consumed in the contiguous United State. In an effort to ensure Gulf seafood remains a valuable resource for generations to come, Audubon Nature Institute has partnered with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Photo: GSMC
by Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
The Gulf of Mexico supply’s nearly a third of the domestic seafood consumed in the contiguous United State. In an effort to ensure Gulf seafood remains a valuable resource for generations to come, Audubon Nature Institute has partnered with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) in an effort to ensure long-term sustainability.
Audubon’s Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries, G.U.L.F., will work with GSMFC, the fisheries commission representing management interests the five Gulf States, to create “advancement plans” addressing fishery research, regulations, harvesting and handling.
The historically robust Gulf fisheries are part of a unique ecosystem. The partnership aims to create a plan to ensure fisheries in the region to thrive to benefit future generations.
“The Audubon Nature Institute efforts to work directly with the Gulf’s harvesters, processors and regulators to better understand challenges in their fishery is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Gulf Seafood Institute Mississippi board member Corky Perret (center), talking with fisherman. Photo: GSI
G.U.L.F. and GSMFC and have partnered to create a management strategy taking into account all aspects of the industry; from economics to ecosystem to getting the product on the plate.
“Advancement plans” represent an approach crafted to encourage positive change and are considered an important part of the future of sustainability in fisheries throughout the world.
These plans are designed to map out an action for the region’s fisheries to go above the bar and ensure long-term sustainability. Fisheries benefit from advancement plans by satisfying retailers’ increasing demands for greater environmental stewardship.
“The Audubon Nature Institute efforts to work directly with the Gulf’s harvesters, processors and regulators to better understand challenges in their fishery is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Gulf Seafood Institute board member Corky Perret. “This approach by a local non-government organization engages the Gulf’s stakeholders to develop and implement Advancement Plans that move the industry forward.”
G.U.L.F. acts as a neutral body and an arm of Audubon Nature Institute, working with government agencies, certification bodies, fishers and processors, buyers, restaurateurs, and consumers to ensure that fisheries in the region thrive for the benefit of future generations.
The Audubon sustainable seafood program will measure the Gulf fisheries against the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries Management. Fishery action plans may differ depending upon the needs identified when compared against those codes of conduct. After creating action plans, G.U.L.F. will work to implement plans and monitor progress.
As Gulf residents, most of us have always believed that the way we manage our resources is indeed a sustainable process – both as fishermen and as resource managers,” said Ralph Hode, Fisheries Disaster Recovery Coordinator at the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Photo: Facebook
Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are part of the GSMFC. The organization is dedicated to the conservation, development, and full utilization of fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as providing food, employment, income, and recreation to the residents of Gulf States.
Through education and outreach, advancement plans, and third-party assessment and certification of Gulf fisheries, G.U.L.F. encourages fisheries to go above and beyond meeting the highest standards for responsible fisheries management.
“As Gulf residents, most of us have always believed that the way we manage our resources is indeed a sustainable process – both as fishermen and as resource managers,” said Ralph Hode, Fisheries Disaster Recovery Coordinator at the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. “The very fact that year after year the Gulf continues to produce excellent seafood is testimony to sound management and harvest practices. Unfortunately, with increasing pressures to provide “Sustainability Certifications” we realize we have not always done a good job of telling the world about our successes– both in Federal waters and in our State managed inshore/near shore waters.”
According to Hode, Audubon’s G.U.L.F. initiative is an excellent medium thorough which to tell these stories.
“The plan is to inventory and analyze our strengths and weaknesses and to work with stakeholders to develop strategies that the industry can voluntarily implement in order to move Gulf products further up the ladder in the marketplace,” he explained. “Our challenge is to not only market the wonderful products that come from the Gulf but to also tell the world what we do to ensure availability now and in the future.”
His organization expects Audubon will play a key role in accomplishing this; and is excited about the opportunity to partner in this initiative. “Audubon has “stepping up to the plate to continue promoting sustainable fisheries and telling our stories long after the initial congressional funding has ended,” he said.
According to G.U.L.F., “Our departments of natural resources already manage our resources well; however, there is always room to improve and G.U.L.F. strives to encourage positive changes that will elevate fisheries to higher levels of sustainability.”
“I am pleased to be working with Audubon Nature Institute and the other Gulf States on this vital project,” said Chris Blankenship, Director of the Alabama Marine Resources Division. Photo: AMRD
Advancement plans are an important tool to keep Gulf seafood on the shelves of national retailers, who often ask for proof that the seafood they buy is sustainable, or involved with a project to help them become more sustainable.
A G.U.L.F. facilitated advancement plan offers a roadmap to greater sustainability, and communicates to the world the region’s dedication to preserving natural resources
“I am pleased to be working with Audubon Nature Institute and the other Gulf States on this vital project,” said Chris Blankenship, Director of the Alabama Marine Resources Division. “It is imperative that the management measures that are being used by the states to sustainably manage the fisheries are validated by an independent group. The fishermen who observe the laws and regulations that are in place to protect the fishery and the environment should be recognized as having a sustainable fishery. “
The project is designed to shed light on areas in each of the states where improvements can be made to ensure the future viability of resources. G.U.L.F. is designed to promote “responsible stewardship” of these resources
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