Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday announced appointments to the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. In 1984, the state created the board to support the vast commercial fisheries industry. The board has 14 members; 13 are appointed by the governor from the Louisiana commercial seafood, crawfish and alligator industry, and the 14th member is appointed by secretary of the...
Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday announced appointments to the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. In 1984, the state created the board to support the vast commercial fisheries industry.
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A Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing billboard along Interstate 10 in Slidell in April 2012.
The board has 14 members; 13 are appointed by the governor from the Louisiana commercial seafood, crawfish and alligator industry, and the 14th member is appointed by secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The board's operating budget historically has come from license sales to Louisiana commercial fishers and seafood wholesalers/retailers, as well as state and federal grants. But in November 2010, Jindal announced $30 million in funding from BP to the board to help market and promote local seafood in the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill that affected national and global perceptions of the brand.
The names of the members appointed by the governor will be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.
The appointments to the Louisiana Seafood Marketing & Promotion Board are:
- Allen Gibson, of Dulac, is the vice president of Tidelands Seafood Co. and president of Driftwoods Farms. Gibson would serve as a representative of the American Shrimp Processors Association.
- Larry Avery, of Sulphur, is the co-owner of Gulf Island Shrimp Seafood. Avery would serve as a seafood processor.
- Peter Totorich, of Mandeville, is the senior director of Perishables for the Associated Grocers, Inc. Totorich would serve as a seafood buyer, nominated by the Louisiana Retailers Association.
- Keith Watts, of Ponchatoula, is the owner of K.W. Crabbing LLC. Watts would serve as representative of the Crab Task Force.
- John Folse, of Gonzales, is the owner of Chef John Folse and Co. Folse would serve as a marketing specialist.
- Tommy Stoddard, of Hackberry, is the owner of Louisiana Alligator Wholesaler, Inc. Stoddard would serve as a representative of the alligator industry.
- David Maginnis, of Houma, is the vice president of Jensen Tuna. Maginnis would serve as a representative of the commercial saltwater finfish industry.
- Peter Sclafani, of Baton Rouge, is the owner and executive chef of Ruffino's Restaurant. Sclafani would serve as a representative of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
- Sal Sunseri, of New Orleans, is the vice president of P&J Oyster Co. Sunseri would serve as a representative of the Louisiana Oyster Dealers & Growers Association.
- Byron Despaux, of Barataria, is a commercial fisherman. Despaux would serve as a representative of the Louisiana Shrimp Association.
- Sherbin Collette, of Henderson, is the owner of Collette's Seafood and is the mayor of Henderson. Collette would serve as a representative of the wild catfish industry.
- Frank Randol, of Lafayette, is the president of Randol, Inc. Randol would serve as a representative of the crawfish industry.