During Washington Mardi Gras in mid-January, the offices of the Gulf coast Congressional Delegation will once again be filled with members of the Gulf Seafood Institute spreading the message of the economic and environmental importance of the Gulf of Mexico and the seafood industries that it supports. Photo: D.C. Visitors Bureau
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
During Washington Mardi Gras in mid-January, the offices of the Gulf Coast Congressional Delegation will once again be filled with members of the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI) spreading the message of the economic and environmental importance of the Gulf of Mexico and the seafood industries that it supports.
GSI will conduct nearly 30 meetings with policy makers, like this one with the staff of Florida Representative Jeff Miller, representing states and districts from the entire Gulf Coast. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
“GSI will conduct our second annual ‘Walk on the Hill’ beginning Jan. 20th and concluding on the 22nd,” said GSI’s executive director Margaret Henderson. “”All told, we’ll be conducting nearly 30 meetings with policy makers representing states and districts from across the entire Gulf Coast.”
“Our days are definitely filled with a lot of walking and talking,” she said about the organization that represents both recreational and commercial fisheries. “There is important legislation coming down the pike and it’s vital the views of Gulf fishermen are expressed and understood by those writing and administering this legislation.”
GSI’s days are filled with a lot of walking and talking. There is important legislation coming down the pike and it’s vital the views of Gulf fishermen are expressed and understood by those writing and administering this legislation. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
At the top of GSI’s list is educating Congress about measures designed to improve management of the recreational red snapper fishery in the Gulf, including administration of the recently appropriated funding for the Gulf recreational charter-for-hire sector electronic data collection program, as well as preserving the H-2B visa program which is critical to filling the most labor-intensive staff positions in the Gulf seafood community.
Walking the cold and snowy grounds of Capitol Hill one year earlier, GSI members met with Gulf Coast Congressional leaders encouraging them to consider properly funding the NMFS budget for an electronic data collection program for the federally-permitted charter boat fishery. The organization received strong support for this issue across party lines and on both sides of the Hill.
“With the passage in December of the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) budget includes $2 million to improve electronic data collection in our nation’s fisheries,” said Troy Frady, captain of The Distraction in Orange Beach, AL, who will join GSI on the walk. “GSI wants to work closely with Congress and NMFS to ensure this program is set in motion ASAP, and the technology is ready to roll out in time for the 2015 red snapper season in the Gulf. Gulf charter-for-hire captains and vessel owners are anxious to get started.”
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GSI wants to work closely with Congress and NMFS to ensure this program is set in motion ASAP, and the technology is ready to roll out in time for the 2015 red snapper season in the Gulf. Gulf charter-for-hire captains and vessel owners are anxious to get started,” said Captain Troy Frady of The Distraction. Photo: Troy Frady
The Gulf Seafood Institute has gained a reputation in D.C. as being a leader in uniting the various Gulf groups and giving them a stronger voice than they have ever had before. In a support of unity for Gulf seafood, members of the Gulf Oyster Industry Council, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition will join GSI’s march through the Congressional hallways.
“Although this is only our second year walking under the GSI banner, a majority of our members have all been here before many times and know the importance of one-on-one face time,” said GSI board president Harlon Pearce, who is no stranger to the Congressional Halls. “Some of our group’s members have been walking with other seafood organizations for more than 20-years. We are well known and respected in the offices we visit, and our efforts have had tangible results for the Gulf’s fishing communities.”
According to GSI Texas board member Jim Gossen, chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafood, the organization has worked long and hard in its effort to be actively involved with all legislation involving the Gulf of Mexico and its seafood. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
“Congress has long been interested in the Gulf, but the spate of bills proposed in the last few years on fisheries, in particular red snapper management, clearly shows the level of concern our federal legislators have concerning the Gulf,” said GSI Florida board member Bob Gill. “It highlights the need for GSI to maintain a close relationship with Congress and be a source of facts and proactive solutions. Walking the Hill reemphasizes the importance of our nations leaders face to face.”
According to GSI Texas board member Jim Gossen, chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafood, the organization has worked long and hard in its effort to be actively involved with all legislation involving the Gulf of Mexico and its seafood. “Our members are continuously returning to Washington during the course of a year, testifying before various House and Senate committees on the importance of the Gulf’s seafood industry,” he said.
Challenges facing the H2B visa community, including the Department of Labor’s refusal to accept private wage surveys that have been the benchmark for more than 20-years, will be one of the top priorities of GSI. During its walk, GSI will ask members of Congress to sign a letter urging the Department to accept private wage surveys from the seafood community and to have language included in the 2016 appropriations bills requiring it to accept the surveys.
GSI Founding Member Frank Randol, a seafood processor in Lafayette, LA, says the wage survey is the key to whether businesses like his survive. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
GSI Founding Member Frank Randol, a seafood processor in Lafayette, LA and owner of Randol’s Restaurant, says the wage survey is the key to whether businesses like his survive. “Wage surveys need to be conducted by local bodies that can give a factual and actual comparison of wages to comparable jobs in the local area. The Department of Labor’s approach of ‘one size fits all’ does not work.”
This is the perfect time for the Gulf Seafood Institute members to be on The Hill, according to Henderson. “With the new Congress starting its first session, we want our issues and faces to be recognized by incumbents and freshmen lawmakers. Important legislation will be coming to the floor of both sides of Capitol Hill, and we want our voice to be heard loud and clear on all issues effecting the Gulf’s seafood community,” she said.
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