Southeastern FisheriesAssociation, Inc. |
SFA's Mission
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.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPONSORS AND ATTENDEES OF THE SFA 2019 ANNUAL MEETING!
US California Rep. Huffman Announces Healthy Oceans & Fisheries Listening Tour in From US Congressman Jared Huffman's Offices: As Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today announced that he will hold a series of roundtable discussions throughout the United States to engage diverse perspectives, interests, and needs of individuals who have a stake in management of our ocean and fisheries resources. SAFMC Requests Emergency Action for Commercial Mackerel Fisheries From SAFMC New Release -After considering public comment and recommendations from its Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel, the Council approved a motion to request NOAA Fisheries use emergency action to increase the second season commercial king mackerel trip limit from 50 fish to 75 fish in the Southern Zone. The Council made the request with the intention of having the increase in place by the beginning of the October 1, 2019 opening. The Atlantic king mackerel stock is not overfished or undergoing overfishing, and it is not anticipated that the commercial quota will be exceeded with the increased trip limit. South Atlantic Council Looking for New Executive Director The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council is seeking applications for an Executive Director. The position will be responsible for managing all administrative and technical aspects of the Council operations within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida to Key West. The Council is also responsible for Coastal Migratory Pelagics from New York to Florida, and for Dolphin/Wahoo from Maine to Florida. Hurricane Irma Relief Funds are Release by NOAA From FWC: The FWC has received notification from NOAA Fisheries that our Hurricane Irma Fisheries Disaster grant has been approved beginning July 1, 2019. While there are several projects in this grant, payment to fishermen and wholesale dealers impacted by Hurricane Irma is a priority. Available government funds are limited. The Fisheries Disaster Relief Program may not be able to cover fishermen fully for their losses. | Stay Safe This Hurricane Season! CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response Webinar on the 2019 Hurricane Season Are you prepared for the 2019 hurricane season? CDC's National Center for Environmental Health is joining the CDC EPIC Team on July 17 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time. CDC experts will discuss the health risks that hurricanes bring; planning for the 2019 hurricane season; and how community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and public health professionals can effectively communicate hurricane messages. Closed captioning will be available. Participants can earn CEU, CHES, and CPH continuing education units. U.S. Supreme Court Ruling May Affect Marine Insurance for Commercial Fishermen According to a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme court may cause insurance rates for some boat owners to decrease. The ruling, which says that employees are not eligible to sue the owner of a vessel for punitive damages, may lower the rates for some owners' P&I rates. According to Isaak Hurst, a lawyer at the International Maritime Group in Seattle, WA, "[It] should, in theory, lower insurance premiums for protection and indemnity [P&I] risks associated with vessels that use SP-23 and SP-38 forms,” Hurst said. “For some of my clients last year, the punitive damage endorsement was upwards of 15 percent of their P&I policy.” New Law in Lousiana Require Restaurants to Display Origins for Shrimp and Crawfish The governor of Louisiana signed LA House Bill 335 into law last Wednesday, June 19th, which requires all restaurants to display on their menus whether shrimp and crawfish served at the establishment are domestic or from a foreign country. | Featured memberSFA and Sustainable Shark Alliance Support SSFTA
Click Below to Download Updated South Atlantic Red Snapper Dates For 2019 The 2019 commercial red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 8, 2019. The 2019 recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 12, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 15, 2019; then reopens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 19, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 21, 2019, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register. Support The Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act of 2019 SFA is urging member and Florida residents to contact Senator Rick Scott and tell him to support the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act fo 2019. The bill, introduced by Senator Rubio in the Senate as S. 1008 and Representative Daniel Webster in the House as HR. 787, promotes ethical and sustainable shark fishing procedures and allows American fishermen to continue making a living. Click the link below to download information about the bill and how to Contact Senator Scott, and tell him to support fishermen! |
Become a member
Please help to keep Southeastern Fisheries Association fighting for the future of the commercial seafood industry and YOUR access to seafood - the cleanest, safest protein in the world. Partner with us by becoming a member.
SFA's Major Goals
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 is developing new options for those needing to be HACCP-certified.
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.
SFA Board of DirectorsExecutive Committee Chairman of the Board: Peter Jarvis, Triar Seafood President: Tony Lombardi, Lombardi's Seafood Vice President: Dawn Aylesworth, Aylesworth Foundation Treasurer: Sherri McCoy, Cape Canaveral Shrimp Co. Secretary: Jeanna Merrifield, Wild Ocean Market Directors Robert Aylesworth, Aylesworth Fish & Bait Gary Graves, Keys Fisheries Dennis Henderson, Trico Shrimp Co. Tom Hill, Key Largo Fisheries Jimmy Hull, Hull's Seafood Market Mike Merrifield, Wild Ocean Market Gerald Pack, Safe Harbor Seafood Eugene Raffield, Raffield Fisheries Steven Rash, Water Street Seafood |
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