Links To Related Web Sites (With Descriptions)
AboutSeafood.com – National Fisheries Institute
AboutSeafood.com is sponsored by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and contains seafood recipes and nutritional and health information about seafood. The NFI is a non-profit organization dedicated to education about seafood safety, sustainability, and nutrition. NFI promotes the U.S. Dietary Guidelines that suggest Americans include fish and shellfish in their diets twice per week for longer, healthier lives. NFI and its members are committed to sustainable management of the oceans and being stewards of the environment by endorsing the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Fisheries.Agricultural Weather Reports
Find out the current weather conditions, forecasts and climate trends from sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of Florida.American Culinary Federation, Inc.
The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., a professional, not-for-profit organization for chefs and cooks, was founded in 1929 in New York City by three chefs’ organizations: the Société Culinaire Philanthropique, the Vatel Club, and the Chefs Association of America. The principal goal is to promote the professional image of American chefs worldwide through education among culinarians at all levels, from apprentices to the most accomplished certified master chefs. ACF sanctions domestic culinary competitions and oversees any international competitions that take place in the United States.Be Oyster Aware
While not a threat to healthy individuals, consumption of raw or undercooked oysters by at-risk individuals may cause serious illness or even death from the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus. This website is dedicated to educating the oyster-consuming public. It provides a thorough background on Vibrio vulnificus and the health conditions that place an individual in the at-risk category, as well as present tasty oyster products safe for all consumers to enjoy, including at-risk consumers.Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The creation of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in April 1997 brought together inspection and related services previously provided through the activities of four federal government departments Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada and Industry Canada. The establishment of CFIA consolidated the delivery of all federal food, animal and plant health inspection programs. The Minister of Health is responsible for establishing policies and standards for the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada; the administration of those provisions of the Food and Drugs Act that relate to public health, safety and nutrition; and for assessing the effectiveness of the agency's activities related to food safety. CFIA delivers 14 inspection programs related to foods, plants and animals in 18 regions across Canada. Its role is to enforce the food safety and nutritional quality standards established by Health Canada and, for animal health and plant protection, to set standards and carry out enforcement and inspection.EUROFISH
EUROFISH is an independent international organization which became operational in 2002, succeeding the FAO EASTFISH project established in 1996. The mandate of EUROFISH is to assist the development of fisheries in Central and Eastern Europe focusing on trade and marketing, processing, and aquaculture. The objectives of EUROFISH are to: provide market and trade information; promote high quality, value-added fishery products; produce relevant and timely publications; develop training programs and capacity-building projects with governments and sponsors. EUROFISH has eight member countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Turkey. In addition, Estonia, Hungary and Italy have signed the Eurofish agreement but not ratified it.FDACS
The FDACS Division of Marketing and Development stimulates, encourages and fosters the production and consumption of agricultural products in addition to conducting activities that enhances cooperation among producers, buyers, retailers, food editors and the consuming public in the promotion and marketing of Florida agriculture. The division is responsible for establishing and maintaining programs which will aid in the orderly marketing of agricultural products and providing efficient distribution of Florida's agricultural products. The division administers the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign (FAPC), also known as the "Fresh from Florida" program. The division is composed of: Director's Office; Bureau of Development and Information; Bureau of License and Bond; Bureau of Food Distribution; Bureau of State Farmers' Markets; Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing; Bureau of Education and Communication; and the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service.FDACS Division of Agricultural Environmental Services
This division administers various state and federal regulatory programs concerning environmental and consumer protection issues. These include state mosquito control program coordination; agricultural pesticide registration, testing and regulation; pest control regulation; and feed, seed and fertilizer production inspection and testing. Through its four bureaus, the division ensures that: pesticides are properly registered and used in accordance with federal and state requirements; mosquito control programs are effectively conducted; and feed, seed and fertilizer products are safe and effective.FDACS Division of Aquaculture
This division: regulates aquaculture facilities and shellfish processing plants; opens and closes shellfish harvesting waters to protect human health; ensures the continued productivity of oyster reefs through a mitigation/restoration program; issues leases of submerged state lands for aquaculture; assists industry development by working on special projects and providing a forum for industry-requested research projects; works with the Aquaculture Review Council, a farmer advisory committee that provides guidance and input on the annual development of the Florida Aquaculture Plan; ensures compliance with Best Management Practices (BMPs), which are formulated to achieve Florida's environmental goals; administers programs to promote industry growth through production and technical support, product promotion and advertising, and financial assistance.FDACS Division of Food Safety
This division is responsible for assuring the public of a safe, wholesome and properly represented food supply through permitting and inspection of food establishments, inspection of food products, and performance of specialized laboratory analyses on a variety of food products sold or produced in the state. The division monitors food from farm gate through processing and distribution to the retail point of purchase. The division is charged with administration and enforcement of the food and poultry and egg laws, and also provides support in the enforcement of other food safety laws. In addition to regulatory surveillance and enforcement, the division evaluates consumer complaints related to food. The division has two bureaus: the Bureau of Food and Meat Inspection and the Bureau of Food and Residue Laboratories.FDACS Division of Marketing and Development
The Division of Marketing and Development stimulates, encourages and fosters the production and consumption of agricultural products in addition to conducting activities that enhance cooperation among producers, buyers, retailers, food editors and the consuming public in the promotion and marketing of Florida agriculture. The division is responsible for establishing and maintaining programs which will aid in the orderly marketing of agricultural products and providing efficient distribution of Florida's agricultural products. The division's goal is to extend in every practical way the distribution and sale of Florida agricultural products and services throughout the markets of the world. Activities are aimed at generating valuable export sales through market research and trade activities.FDACS Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement
The FDACS Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement operates 22 agricultural interdiction stations located on all paved highways crossing the natural boundary of the Suwannee and St. Mary’s rivers. Agricultural vehicle inspections are conducted at each location around the clock, 365 days a year. These officers support and supplement all of the Department’s regulatory and law enforcement programs by conducting inspections of highway shipments of agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural and livestock commodities. These regulations and programs ensure compliance with Federal-State Marketing Agreements as well as laws, rules and regulations enacted to make certain the public receives quality food products. Programs are also designed to prevent, control and eradicate specific plant and animal pests and diseases that could economically devastate segments of Florida’s agricultural industry.FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy
This office was established in 1995 by the Florida Legislature to facilitate and improve communications between federal, state, local agencies, and the agricultural industry on water quantity and water quality issues involving agriculture. The office is involved in the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on a site-specific, regional, and watershed basis. It works cooperatively with agricultural producers and industry groups, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the university system, the water management district, and other interested parties to develop and implement BMPs programs that are economically and technically feasible. The office’s primary mission is to formulate and establish water policies that will provide assurances that agriculture will have access to sufficient water supplies in the future.Fishedz Aquarium Fish
Information for kids and parents about setting up and maintaining a home aquarium with an emphasis on tropical fish from Florida. There's also fish photos, games, jokes, a pet store finder, and more.FishWatch – NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Fisheries management involves regulating when, where, how, and how much fishermen are allowed to harvest to ensure that there will be fish in the future. NOAA Fisheries Service (also known as NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service or NMFS) is the federal agency responsible for fisheries management in the United States' "Exclusive Economic Zone" (EEZ). NOAA Fisheries Service plays a supportive and advisory role in the management of living marine resources in coastal areas under state jurisdiction, and the states generally operate in partnership with NOAA to ensure that management is consistent, conservative, and science-based.FishWatch Sustainable Seafood – NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
FishWatch can help you make informed decisions about the seafood you eat by providing the most accurate and up-to-date information on seafood available in the U.S. Seafood is sustainable when the population of that species of fish is managed in a way that provides for today’s needs without damaging the ability of the species to reproduce and be available for future generations. If you buy fish managed under a U.S. fishery management plan, you can be assured it meets 10 national standards that ensure fish stocks are maintained, overfishing is eliminated, and the long-term socioeconomic benefits to the nation are achieved.Florida Agricultural Statistics Service
The Florida Agricultural Statistics Service (FASS) is the main agricultural data gathering agency in Florida with the purpose of collecting, compiling and providing current statistics. This service is provided in cooperation with the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). A primary goal of FASS is to provide farmers, ranchers and other producers of agricultural commodities with unbiased and reliable information to assist them in making production and marketing decisions. Other important users of agricultural statistics are farm organizations, agribusiness and transportation firms, state and national policy makers, and foreign buyers of agricultural products. Farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses provide the data which are collected through a broad program of sample surveys throughout the year.Florida Aquaculture Association
The Florida Aquaculture Association was formed in 1983 to provide a united organization for Florida’s diverse and specialized aquatic farming commodities. Florida is the top U.S. producer of tropical fish, clams, aquatic plants, live rock and alligators. The mission of the Florida Aquaculture Association is to provide a unified voice for Florida aquaculture that ensures its sustainability, protects its profitability, and encourages its development in an environmentally responsible manner.Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The mission of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to safeguard the public and support Florida's agricultural economy by: Ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food and other consumer products through inspection and testing programs; protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices and providing consumer information; assisting Florida's farmers and agricultural industries with the production and promotion of agricultural products; and conserving and protecting the state's agricultural and natural resources by reducing wildfires, promoting environmentally safe agricultural practices, and managing public lands.Florida Department of Health, Fish Consumption Advisory
The Florida Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services operate jointly to determine if environmental chemicals are present in fish from Florida waters. The DOH Bureau of Environmental Public Health Medicine determines the potential for adverse human health effects from consuming the fish and issues fish consumption advisories when needed.Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Effective July 1, 1999, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was created to combine the functions of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) and the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC).Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association
The mission of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association (FKCFA), aka Monroe County Commercial Fishermen Inc., is to: organize the Florida Keys fishermen into an effective lobby to protect and promote the fishing industry; encourage laws that protect the fishing industry of South Florida while improving its sustainability; advance the science of fishing through cooperative research; partner with all other community associations working toward sustaining the fishing community; and work with the county, state and federal agencies to minimize the negative impact of regulations on fishermen while improving the conservation of marine resources.Florida Restaurant Association
The Florida Restaurant Association and its educational foundation promote dining out, encourage restaurant careers, publicize the industry's commitment to food safety, and highlight the restaurant industry's impact on the economy and local communities.Florida's Tastiest Catch
The “Florida’s Tastiest Catch” web site focuses on the importance of Florida’s commercial fishing industry from its beginnings to the present. The goal is to help educate the public about Florida’s hardworking and dedicated fisherman and the struggles they face to supply consumers with quality products, and the working waterfronts and fishing communities they represent.
