The overall mission of Southeastern Fisheries Association (SFA) is to defend, preserve 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 stocks of fish. SFA represents its members before local, state, regional, national and international bodies. SFA is the only regional association in the south that represents all fisheries in all levels of participation from the oceans to the plate. SFA’s Board of Directors believe cooperation between fisheries is the best way to protect and enhance the industry.

Southeastern Fisheries Association (SFA) is a 501 c (6) non profit 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. SFA serves the nation by maintaining 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 wetlands and estuaries of the world. SFA provides technical information to the members on seafood safety, proposed legislation and regulations.

Several hundred company and boat members are involved in various aspects of seafood harvesting, processing, freezing, storage, distribution and wholesale and retail sales. SFA headquarters are located in Tallahassee, Florida.

SOME LONG RANGE OBJECTIVES

1. To 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 are in fisheries identified as overcapitalized. Another effort is being made by groups who are opposed to killing animals for food purposes. There are those who won’t eat anything with a face and there are those who won’t eat anything with eyelids. Another effort, and perhaps the most powerful, are sportfishing and tackle manufacturing groups who want the fish reserved for recreational purposes and not for the market.
2. To establish a continuing education program 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 seafood safety regulations. In the United States the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established CFR 121 as the controlling regulations for all seafood and aquaculture products sold at wholesale in the country. SFA’s executive director has been certified by FDA to teach HACCP courses to any company in the world.
3. To improve the image of commercial fishermen in the minds of the public. For more than fifty years, the allocation of marine resources between commercial harvesters and recreational anglers has been a contentious issue. As far back as the turn of the century, outdoor writers were painting the commercial fishermen as pirates or worse. As recreational fishing became more of an industry and more and more people could afford boats and motors to go fishing, the commercial fishermen, particularly gillnet fishermen were painted as the devil and the cause of any perceived decline in fish stocks.
4. To chronicle the history of the southeastern seafood industry. Through manuscripts, rules and regulations, show how the seafood industry in the southeast has been transformed from a needed and respected industry to an industry that is considered to be the last of the hunters and gatherers. Compare the decline of the seafood industry with the rise in populations in the southern states.
5. To establish a fisheries training program encompassing all aspects of fishing including environmental protection and sustainability of all fisheries. Begin a program to bring young people into the harvesting industry in order to maintain the infrastructure necessary to provide protein to the citizens of the United States. Teach sound conservation and respect for the habitats of all living marine resources.

SEVERAL SHORT RANGE GOALS

1. Present formal request to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to adopt fair policies of adequate due process and be more open to testimony and information brought before the Commission by commercial fishermen.
2. Initiate an inquiry concerning selective law enforcement by marine patrol officers. Quantify whether certain fishermen using certain types of gear are more likely to be stopped and harassed than other type fishermen
3. Conduct a workshop with environmental leaders to discuss issues for which there might be a consensus such as pollution abatement, halting destruction of sea grasses and protection of marine turtles and manatees in the inshore waters of Florida.
4. Work towards consensus on habitat and manatee protection and present formal document to the Commission for adoption.
5. Participate in talks to reduce bycatch associated with the yellow fin tuna and swordfish industry.
6. Develop a web site on training for boat crewmen, seafood safety training and other potential jobs important to harvesters and processors.
7. Utilize any distant learning courses that would benefit the fishermen.
8. Establish recognition program for three seafood companies and six fishermen that participate in programs to improve the environment and present the recognition awards during the annual convention.
9. Assist FDA and DACS in a program to mandate that any seafood for human consumption must be processed in a facility that has a certified Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program.
10. Work towards the establishment of a program with the Mexican fishing industry that would allow US shrimp boats access to some shrimp grounds under a well managed conservation program.