Southeastern Fisheries Association
Serving the Commercial Fishing Industry for over 60 years
SFA Mission Statement:
SFA’s mission is to defend, protect and enhance the commercial fishing industry in the
southeastern United States for present participants as well as future generations through all
legal means while maintaining healthy and sustainable stocks of fish.
Ethics Statement:
SFA is committed to working on behalf of its members in a fair and honest manner, in
full compliance with all laws and regulations. The longstanding, honorable reputation
of SFA demonstrates the professional integrity and accountability of its staff and
leadership. We commit to provide accurate and fair information in all of our procedures
and practices to SFA members, vendors, government agencies and all others interested
in fisheries-related issues.
SFA serves as a vehicle for solving problems related to the seafood
industry in southeastern region of the United States.
SFA emphasizes the benefits of
cooperation and the commitment for protecting the natural water resources of the world.
SFA
provides technical information to the members on seafood safety, and provides reports on legislation and
regulations.
SFA represents harvesters, packers, processors, distributors and restaurants which illustrates
that SFA is involved in the seafood industry “from the oceans to the plate.”
SFA strives to preserve fishery resources, fishermen and communities
SFA supports honest, science-based conservation and management that complies with the Rule of
Law
SFA provides current, pertinent information and updates to members concerning federally required
Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations (HACCP), proposed fisheries legislation
under consideration by Congress and fishery-related regulations, as enacted by state and
federal governments
SFA is at the forefront trying to stop consumer fraud including seafood product substitution (bait& switch) and net weight violations
SFA emphasizes the benefits of cooperation and the commitment for protecting the wetlands and
estuaries of the world.
SFA members are involved in all aspects of seafood harvesting, processing, freezing, storage,
distribution and wholesale and retail sales.
Southeastern Fisheries Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit fisheries trade association
founded by a core group of fish dealers in 1952. SFA is composed of companies and individual
fishermen and workers employed within or supportive of the seafood and aquaculture industry at
the local, state, national and international level.
- Preserve harvesting access to the marine fisheries resources for future generations.
There are worldwide efforts to reduce the harvest of seafood and to reduce the number of fishing vessels and fishermen in the industry. One major effort of reduction is in fisheries identified as overcapitalized. Another effort is being made by groups who are opposed to harvesting animals for food purposes.
- Promote and deliver continuing education programs concerning seafood safety.
There is a worldwide concern about seafood safety, so much so that the United States, Canada and the European Economic Union have initiated strict seafood safety regulations. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established 21 CFR 123 in 1996 as the controlling regulations for all seafood and aquaculture products sold at wholesale in the country. SFA’s Executive Director is certified to teach HACCP courses to any company in the world.
- Chronicle the history of the southeastern seafood industry.
Manuscripts, rules and regulations show how the seafood industry in the southeast has been transformed from a valuable and respected industry to an industry considered by some groups as no longer needed.
Since 1964, Executive Director Robert P. Jones has led the charge for many commercial fishing groups within and without the Southeastern Fisheries Association.
Jones’ leadership and knowledge allows him to actively participate in a wide range of national, regional and local organizations including:
US Coast Guard Advisory Committee
US Environmental Protection Agency’s, Gulf of Mexico Initiative
Alaskan Coastal Zone Advisory Committee
National Academy of Science on Vessel Safety
US Department of State, Ocean Affairs Advisory Committee
Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panel, South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Development Foundation, Inc.
Gulf of Mexico Seafood Marketing Coalition
Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council
Florida Task Force on Food Safety under Agriculture and Consumer Services
Florida/Alabama Habitat Committee, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Florida
Governor’s Oceans Policy Task Force
Keep American Beautiful Campaign
Jones monitors state and federal legislation affecting the seafood industry and coordinates events in Tallahassee, FL and Washington, DC. He has represented domestic fisheries on an international basis including a Trade Mission to Japan, Business development in India and Bilateral talks concerning shrimping in Mexico.
Jones is a Certified Seafood HACCP Trainer and has trained and certified staff at more than 950 firms in the seafood industry and is called on to solve complex seafood safety issues on a regular basis.
Jones has been a guest lecturer at many universities including Florida State University, University of South Florida, Oregon State University, University of Florida and Tulane University. Jones graduated from University of South Florida and served our nation in the US Marine Corps 1952-1955.
2015-2016 SFA Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Chairman of the Board
Gerald Pack, Safe Harbor Seafood, Atlantic Beach, FL
President
Jimmy Hull, Hull’s Seafood Markets, Inc., Ormond Beach, FL
Vice President
Peter Jarvis, Triar Seafood Company, Hollywood, FL
Treasurer
Grant Erickson, Erickson & Jensen Seafood Packers, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Secretary
Jeanna Merrifield, Cape Canaveral Shrimp Company, Titusville, FL
Directors
Robert Aylesworth, Aylesworth’s Fish & Bait, Inc., St Petersburg, FL
Darrell Glover, Beaver Street Fisheries, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
Gary Graves, Keys Fisheries, Inc., Marathon, FL
Dennis Henderson, Trico Shrimp Company, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Tom Hill, Key Largo Fisheries, Inc., Key Largo, FL
Jimmy Hull, SFA East Coast Fisheries, Ormond Beach, FL
Tony Lombardi, Lombardi’s Marketplace LLC, Winter Park, FL
Sherri McCoy, Cape Canaveral Shrimp Company, Cape Canaveral, FL
Mike Merrifield, Cape Canaveral Shrimp Company, Titusville, FL
Darrell Poli, Marine Supply & Oil Company, St Augustine, FL
Eugene Raffield Jr., Raffield Fisheries, Inc., Port St. Joe, FL
Steven Rash, Water Street Seafood, Inc., Apalachicola, FL
Alternate Director Ernie Donini, Jr., Superior Seafoods, Inc., Tampa, FL
Past Presidents
Economic
Facts & Figures
SHARK FIN BAN
The United States Congress is currently considering a nationwideban on buying or selling shark fins [1], which are consumed as part ofshark fin soup, a traditional Asian delicacy. Such a nationwide banwould build on a movement that began in a few states including California,New York, and Texas, and now includes a total of 12 states.These state-level shark fin bans are not identical, as some include exceptionsfor certain shark species, which demonstrates an inconsistencyof anti-fin trade arguments.
CHESAPEAKE WILD BLUE CATFISH
HULL'S SEAFOOD
ONE ANGLER'S VOYAGE
After spending over 50 years on and around the water, I have realized that without strong fisheries laws and effective conservation measures, the future of salt water fishing, and America's living marine resources, is dim. Yet conservation is given short shrift by national angling organizations and the angling press. I hope that this blog will incite, inform and inspire salt water fishermen to reclaim their traditional role as the leading advocates for the conservation of America's fisheries.
CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS OF NET FISHING IN FLORIDA
This report, by Jack Rubloe, addresses the controversy between commercial and sport fishing interests over the use of large commercial nets in capturing food finfish.
MULLET: A TALE OF TWO FISH
The long and storied history of Florida's most under-appreciated fish is explored, including its importance as a food source for Native Americans, Spanish explorers and early
BALANCE FOR EARTH
WE MUST CLEAN UP OUR WATERS NOW!
There are 20,636,975 residents in Florida according to the Census. The Orlando Sentinel recently reported; “Despite the record year of 97.3 million tourists, Florida fell short of reaching Scott's goal of having 100 million tourists visit in 2014. Nearly 94 million people visited the state the previous year.”[1] Residents plus tourists add up to almost 115,000,000 people impacted by the 3-2 vote of the Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC).
SENATOR RUBIO EMAIL
As Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, I write with great concern on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement that red snapper in South Atlantic Federal waters will once again be closed in 2016.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS Members of the Southeastern Fisheries Association gathered in Key Largo last week to discuss legislative changes, industry regulations and how to protect their harvesting rights.
“The recreational side is a lot more powerful than us,” said SFA Executive Director Bob Jones. “They get about 73 percent of all the finfish allocated in the South Atlantic. We are just trying to hold onto the allocations that we have because without us, most folks in the world wouldn’t be able to enjoy fresh seafood.”
GETTING REAL ABOUT ECOSYSTEM BASED MANAGEMENT
The operative words here, which are echoed in most other definitions and discussions of Ecosystem Based Management, are “all the links among living and nonliving resources.” Obviously this should be a huge departure from what we’ll call traditional fisheries management, which has always been focused on the impacts of one activity – fishing – on one or a limited complex of several species of fish or shellfish.
WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANTS
Charter schools, EDF, MSC, Ocean Conservancy and $9 Million for CATCH SHARES are some of the big winners of WalMart money in 2014. It is getting more difficult each year to stand up to the millions of tax-free dollars used to destroy the commercial fishing culture. Review the Walton family philosophy as reflected in their grants.
