Summit aims to net new seafood business

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Area seafood industry stakeholders convened in Mobile starting today, seeking to increase demand around the world for Gulf Coast Seafood.

The Alabama Seafood summit began Monday, March 4 and will continue through Tuesday at the Mobile Convention Center.

Governor Robert Bentley and Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan and other local officials launched the program with an opening address at 8:30 Tuesday morning.

 “We see a limitless future for our Alabama Gulf seafood industry in the years ahead" said McMillan.

McMillian said food safety lab tests at the agriculture department have found the quality Alabama Gulf seafood “to be without question.”

 "This is a stellar record that speaks volumes about the integrity of the industry and their dedication to providing an excellent product," he said.

The Governor’s office said the event will be anchored by panel discussions from keynote speakers focusing on the seafood trade.

State officials said more than 10,000 jobs are directly related to the seafood industry in Alabama with a total economic impact prior to the Deepwater Horizon Spill of over $445 million annually.

“The economic impact of the seafood industry in Alabama has been reduced nearly $100 million annually since the spill,” said Chris Blankenship, director of Alabama Marine Resources and Program Administrator for the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission.

“The hardworking men and women of the seafood industry in Alabama have been the backbone of its coastal communities for centuries. The Alabama Seafood Summit is a step in regaining the market share that was lost during the oil spill, which is of utmost importance to the future viability of Alabama’s seafood community.”

For more information about the Alabama Seafood Summit or to register, please visit http://www.alseafoodsummit.com . (external liink)