Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance

REEF’s Mission: 

To protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.

Grant Project Goal(s):

To build bridges in the Gulf of Mexico, supporting and enhancing collaboration in the NOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Area.

Immediate Objective(s):

To 1) build communication bridges between the commercial wild harvest and aquaculture industries that will lead to a bolstered and more unified domestic seafood industry; 2) inform the Gulf Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA) discussion to ensure an effective and sustainable Gulf AOA; and 3) solidify a stakeholder-driven and collaborative education process that can be replicated for forthcoming AOAs in other regions of the U.S.

Work will include organizing and implementing five moderated in-person or online workshops to bring together up to 50 commercial wild harvest fishermen, finfish aquaculture representatives, and seafood supply chain partners in coastal communities across the Gulf.

This will lead to a strategic report that identifies opportunities for collaboration and coordinated messaging points that these two sectors can jointly deliver to NOAA.

Key Learnings:

We 1) built communication bridges between the commercial wild harvest and aquaculture industries that will lead to a bolstered and more unified domestic seafood industry, 2) informed the Gulf AOA discussion to ensure an effective and sustainable Gulf AOA, and 3) helped solidify a stakeholder-driven and collaborative education process that can be replicated for forthcoming AOAs in other regions of the U.S.

If given the opportunity and relevant information, commercial fishermen can support complimentary sustainable seafood production enterprises that share common goals and visions. Education and outreach, along with access and engagement, deliver collaborative solutions to shared problems. A meaningful seat at the table—coupled with early and regular communications—goes a long way towards collaboration.

Learn more at Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance.