A Newsletter for the Seafood Industry published by the Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing
March 2007
Grouper… What’s Legal and What’s Not
With the many recent reports in the media, we need to make sure all retailers and restaurants understand the laws pertaining to labeling and selling grouper. It is important to understand that it is against the law to misbrand seafood by illegally labeling fish other than grouper as grouper. Florida Statute 500.11 (paragraph 1a-e) states:
(1) A food is deemed to be misbranded:
- If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular
- If it is offered for sale under the name of another food
- If it is an imitation of another food, unless its label bears, in type of uniform size and prominence, the words “imitation” and, immediately thereafter, the name of the food imitated
- If its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading
- If in package form, unless it bears a label containing: the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor
In addition, it is important to emphasize the law as it pertains to purchasing seafood from an individual other than a licensed commercial fishermen, wholesaler or retailer. Wholesalers, retailers or restaurants purchasing seafood from unlicensed individuals can be fined up to $5,000 with a 24-month suspension of their wholesale/retail dealer’s license. Illegal purchase or sale of seafood harvested illegally and brought across a state or federal border could trigger a violation of the Federal Lacey Act with fines up to $100,000 or more.
If you know of any company mislabeling any seafood product or purchasing from an unlicensed individual, please contact the Division of Food Safety, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at (850) 488-3951, fax (850) 488-7806, or email foodinsp@doacs.state.fl.us.
The Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing is working with National Fisheries Institute, Southeastern Fisheries Association, Inc., and the Division of Food Safety to provide information and assistance to wholesalers, distributors, retailers and restaurants. Keep a lookout for more information at www.FL-Seafood.com.
Springtime Tallahassee
The Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing will participate in a "Fresh from Florida" Seafood Festival in conjunction with the 39th Annual Springtime Tallahassee Grand Parade and Jubilee. The event will be held Saturday, March 31, in Downtown Tallahassee.
Local seafood vendors will showcase Florida seafood products. Bureau employees will staff a booth distributing recipe brochures, magnets and other promotional items. Executive Chef Justin Timineri, the Great American Seafood Cook-off Champion of 2006, will be on hand with tasty samples of seafood ceviche.
With more that 200,000 attendees and featuring the finest arts and crafts vendors, gourmet foods, and parade floats from around the Southeast; this is one event you don’t want to miss. There are still opportunities for Florida seafood vendors at the festival. For information, contact Nicole Haugdahl at (850) 488-0163. Vending specifics can be viewed at http://www.springtimetallahassee.com/
2007 International Boston Seafood Show
The Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing will coordinate and host the Florida Pavilion at the International Boston Seafood Show, March 11-13, 2007, at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center. Eight of Florida’s finest seafood and aquaculture companies will join us at this year’s event: All American Alligator, Cuzzy’s Key West Sauces, Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Incredible Fish, Leavins Seafood, Shaw's Southern Belle Frozen Foods, White Water International and Wood’s Fisheries.
Florida celebrity chefs will also shine the spotlight at the International Boston Seafood Show. These celebrity chefs will provide a high-profile, eye-catching way to present and promote their Florida seafood and aquaculture products. Chef Justin Timineri, sponsored by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, will be educating show attendees about post-harvest processed Florida oysters and preparing oysters along with other seafood delicacies for attendees to sample. Chef Dean Max will feature Florida farm-raised clams and conch in a variety of recipes. If you attend the 2007 Boston Seafood Show please visit booth 500 and help promote Florida seafood and aquaculture.
For additional information about the 2008 Boston Seafood Show, contact Paul Balthrop, (850) 488-0163 or email balthrp@doacs.state.fl.us.
Attention Aquaculture Companies
The U.S. Soybean Export Council is looking for aquaculture companies to work with on the development of soybean feed. The use of soybean products in the aquaculture industry has become the focus of protein substitution in aquafeed for every fed species around the world. The U.S. soybean industry recognized the need for research in fish nutrition, feed-based aquaculture production technologies, and soy product application in aquafeeds. Research began in China, the largest producer of aquaculture products, in 1992. Since that time, feeding trials to demonstrate the nutritional properties and economical advantages of using species specific soy-based rations have been conducted around the globe. Details of these feeding demonstrations, their results and their impact on soy use from inception of the program through the present can be reviewed at www.soyaqua.org.
For information, please contact:
Mr. Brent Babb
U.S. Soybean Export Council
12125 Woodcrest Executive Dr., Suite 140
St. Louis, MO 63141
Telephone: (314) 985-0988
Fax: (314)754-1351
Email: bbabb@ussoyexports.org
Web: www.ussoyexports.org
Cortez Fishing Festival, February 17-18, 2007
The Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing’s exhibit was nestled among more than 50 booths that offered arts and crafts, education and seafood cooked almost any way you could want it. Bureau staff handed out nearly 1,500 Florida seafood recipe brochures, posters, coloring books and magnets. These promotional items were so popular with the attendees, a neighboring exhibitor observed, “Wow! You would think you were giving out free food or something the way people are swarming to get your brochures!”
Attendee interest and appreciation for Florida seafood and the industry was very high at this historic festival. More than 90 percent of the people that visited the gazebo were from another state. They all seemed very receptive to learning about and trying different species.
Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
Fernandina Beach will host the 44th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp May 4-6. As a part of local history, Fernandina Beach is credited with being the birthplace of the modern commercial shrimping industry early in the 20th century. The first Shrimp Festival was held in 1963 to celebrate the traditional blessing of the shrimp boat.
Seafood Marketing staff will host a booth at the event. For more information, visit www.shrimpfestival.com.
Televised Cooking Segments
Florida seafood is showcased on a local Tallahassee television station on a regular basis. Seafood Marketing staff prepares nutritious and delicious recipes on the local "Good Morning" TV show.
If you have a favorite family seafood recipe to share with us, please email Ramsay Parham at parhamv@doacs.state.fl.us. To receive our delicious, easy recipes visit
www.FL-Seafood.com.
IFAS Training Program
Benefits and Risks Associated With Seafood and Aquaculture Consumption
Seafood Marketing staff will attend the two-day program March 26-27 in Gainesville. Invited speakers will address prevailing issues, status and predictions for consumption and supply, seafood choices and health benefits.
Publication Number DACS-P-01430
