A friendly reminder to CFSI members who have not yet renewed their 2019 memberships:
Please know that your membership has helped fund a number of efforts to help keep your business thriving by:
- Ensuring that imports are not impeded nor subjected to unreasonable regulations, restrictions, or new taxes on essential sources of nutritional seafood.
- Supporting efforts to promote aquaculture to meet future demand.
- Promoting access to local fisheries.
- Serving as a legislative and regulatory watchdog for the seafood industry in California.
In 2019, we are accomplishing even more, including our efforts to fight against the destructive agenda of extreme ENGOs and regulatory threats that would negatively impact your business. Please keep in mind that we can’t do it without the generous contributions of company leaders like you. Thank you!
Please join CFSI for another successful year by renewing your membership today.
If you have any questions, please contact our Membership Director, Michael Lee, at michael@calseafood.net or our Executive Director, Rob Ross at info@calseafood.net or (916) 441-5560.
As always, we thank you for your continued dedication to our work. We look forward to serving you and enhancing your opportunity to thrive.
Sincerely,
Rob Ross, Executive Director
California Fisheries and Seafood Institute – a 501(c)6 corporation
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2018 CFSI Activities and Accomplishments
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Import, Trade and Tariff Issues:
- Members advised and sent information on the
following:
- EU catch verification processes.
- China imposes 25% tariff on many fish and shellfish species (food marketing institute, CFSI).
- Import restrictions on seafood from Baja Norte, how to comply, documents needed for compliance.
- Skate labeling and shark fin restrictions.
- Kept landing taxes on imports off the legislative agenda.
- US Seafood Import Monitoring Program, final rule on traceability.
- Vietnam files WTO complaint against USDA catfish Inspection.
- Labeling/warning issues re: Imported seafood warning requirements.
- Co-coordinated national coalition to seat Chris Oliver as head of NOAA Fisheries.
- Countered California Department of Health regarding shellfish labeling requirements.
- FDA confirms EU’s shellfish is equivalent to U.S. standards.
- Co-sponsors of seafood safety workshops.
- Advise members that new Prop 65 warning requirements, effective August 30, 2018.
- Advised of seafood import restrictions.
General:
- Legislated workable solution to electronic filing of landing tickets.
- Urged Governor to support industry-based nominees to the PFMC.
- Engaged health officials, legislature, and CDFW on matters of domoic acid (crab, lobster, urchin).
- Distributed health advisories to members and responded to media.
- Coordinated members of the state legislature and Congress to ask Secretary of Commerce to declare federal disaster for impacted fisheries (crab, salmon, sardine, urchin).
- Announced webinars on modernized seafood nutritional facts.
- Shared new educational videos, smoked fish school.
- Fought extreme ENGOs on unfounded claims and legislation banning nets to take swordfish in federal waters offshore California.
- Tout seafood health benefits to members and media.
- Fought for access on well-managed stocks of fish and shellfish.
Aquaculture:
- Pushed for completion of Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for offshore aquaculture.
- Promoted farmed fish and shellfish to consumers, regulators, legislators, and media.
- Advocated for new offshore finfish and shellfish farms in southern California.
- Supported initiative to triple coastal oyster, clam, and mussel production.
- Attended area workshops supporting citing of first California offshore farm as model Project.