September 2023 Meeting Notes

Written By NOLA FPAC

Facilitator: Marianne Cufone

Notetaker: Dimitri Celis

Attendees: Elisa Munoz (FPAC), Marianne Cufone (RF), Dimitri Celis (RF), Dana Honn (Carmo), John Fallon (Audubon Nature), Francesca Jones (CCFM), Samantha Carter (NWF), Rachel Kimmel (Audubon Nature), Jasmine Moll (Healthy Gulf)

Agenda:

1. Updates on anything new with each of us

2. Review the priorities we identified last year:

     a. Alternative oyster culture

     b. Local seafood promotion

     c. Coastal protection/restoration

3. Review and reconfirm our meeting time (2nd Wed of the month at 11am)

4. Talk about additional potential members

5. New chair/vice chair nominations

6. Make a plan for advocacy this year:

     a. AOC state leg acknowledgement 

     b. How to promote local seafood? New Eat Local Label? Use FPAC website?

     c.  what kind of advocacy work do we want to see and how? Comment letters, legislation, local resolutions etc.

Notes:

  • Marianne: RF took hiatus in August for strategic planning. Supporting sustainable seafood, partnering with seafood providers, working with healthy gulf on some policy.

  • Dana: Porgy’s Seafood Market on Carrollton opening soon. Working on Gulf sushi designation for harvest and handling.

  • Francesca - August is a slower time in the market due to heat. Alligator now at market. Recently hired program coordinator to increase capacity.

  • John Fallon - First meeting. Audubon Nature Institute. Sustainable seafood gulf program. 

  • Rachel - Education coordinator for Audubon sustainable seafood program - focus on community engagement. 

  • Sam Carter - NWF - outreach committee chair for Restore Mississippi River Delta. Connection to restoration, launch of Coastal community cookbook

  • Elisa - New FPAC website. Brynn to share logos when completed. Hoping to release in November .

  • Jasmine Moll - Sci and Policy specialist in Healthy Gulf

  • Meeting time: Second Wednesday of the month still works for everyone.

  • AOC:

    • Push for state level proclamation supporting AOC

    • Momentum to build off of from CRCL’s oyster shell tax credit.

  • Local seafood promotion;

    • Advertising Dana’s seafood market on Carrollton 

    • Website w/ list of restaurants and vendors that sell local seafood. Where can that be hosted?

      • John/Audubon: In process of revamping website, will include list of partners that sell local. Opportunities to include other partners. Separate meeting to discuss how to incorporate both FPAC and Audubon websites.

  • For next meeting, what does policy advocacy look like for this group (coastal restoration)

    • Coastal scientist at NWF has given presentations to stakeholders on land loss and effect on habitat and species. Good for having base information. Will see if she’s available for next meeting.

  • New chair/vice chair nominations - setting agendas, calendar invites, etc, not a huge lift. There’s a co-chair/working chair guide (Elisa).

NOLA FPAC
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