PowerPoint Presentation

Fresh Direct Seafood and Industry Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana Direct Seafood AcademyMarch 1, 2012

Jon Bell, PhD

LSU Ag CenterLouisiana Sea Grant Program

1Overview of 4 TopicsFresh Product License (FPL)

FPL & Seafood Product Safety

Developing Seafood Programs in LouisianaLouisiana Wild Certified Shrimp (LWCS)Electronic TraceabilitySustainabilityLDWF Seafood UniversityFresh Product LicenseLDWF Cost and Record KeepingLDHH Allowances & PermitsLDAF Scale CertificationSales Records, Taxes Fresh Product LicenseLDWF Allows commercial fisherman to sell own catch directly to consumer (vessel, home, car)$20 resident; $120 nonresidentSecondary FPL allows spouse to sell catch directly to consumer$5MUST COMPLETE & SUBMIT TRIP TICKETSFresh Product LicenseLDHH Responsible for protecting safety & wholesomeness of seafood (all food) sold to consumers in LouisianaControlled through GMP (Sanitation) and HACCP (Food Hazards & Safety) regulations required of seafood processors (Food Sanitary Code)Fresh Product LicenseLDHH Seafood Processors (Wholesale/Retail Dealers License to LDWF) need a Permit to Operate from LDHHMultiple requirements, including physical addressWill Not permit vessel, home, vehicleFresh Product LicenseLDHH So What Does This Mean?Using FPL, commercial fishermen can sell only WHOLE Seafood directly to consumersYou can pop heads, gut fish to prepare for holding on the vessel if you sell to a licensed Wholesale Dealer (processor)But NOT directly to a consumerFresh Product LicenseLDHH IF You DO Want to sell headless or peeled shrimp, or gutted fish or fish fillets, or picked crab meat, you have to get a Wholesale Dealers License from LDWF, and Permit to Operate from LDHH. And you cant do this on your boat or at home.

Fresh Product LicenseLDHH (225) 342 - 7773Thus, in addition to the other License and Permit, you will need a processing facility, and become a seafood processor. Which requires compliance with GMP and HACCP regulations.Has been done before. If sounds like a good plan, Call LDHH

Fresh Product LicenseLDHH (225) 342 - 7773So What Does This Mean?Also, using FPL, commercial fishermen can NOT sell oysters directly to consumersDoes not comply with Molluscan Shellfish Program, Vibrio Control Plan requirementsLDHH rules based on responsibility of seafood safety control and consumer protectionFresh Product LicenseLDAF (225) 922 - 1341Responsible for ensuring accuracy of weight of sales for all products (food, gas, etc.) to consumers in LouisianaSince fishermen are selling seafood to consumers with FPL, your scale must be annually inspected and certified for accuracy.$35/year for up to 1,000 pounds

Fresh Product LicenseSales RecordsSales records must:Be kept in English and for 3 Years!Include Quantity, Species, Date caughtFPL Name and License NumberNoted that seafood was sold directly to consumerConsumer Name NOT Needed

Fresh Product LicenseSales TaxesMost Parishes require that fishermen selling their catch to consumers register with the parish to pay sale tax

For more details, contact:Local ParishDept. Revenue, Sales Tax Division(225) 219 - 7356FPL & Seafood Product SafetyCommercial Fishermen and & FPL are responsible to control their seafood product safety and protect their customers.Business, moral, and legal obligation and responsibilityAccomplished selling whole seafood directly to the consumer without complex regulation

FPL & Seafood Product SafetyKEEP IT CLEANGET IT COLD QUICKLYKEEP IT COLDSELL ONLY HIGH QUALITY, WHOLESOME SEAFOODNOT TIRED OR SPOILEDFPL & Seafood Product SafetyVessel SanitationKeep surfaces and equipment cleanRinse after each drag and handlingThoroughly clean up after each dayClean and sanitize deck, hold, and equipment after trip is complete, and seafood is sold and unloadedControl rust and keep painted and sharpBOAT IS FIRST CONSUMER IMPRESSION

FPL & Seafood Product SafetyChilling & Temperature ControlThoroughly Rinse Seafood Chill Seafood RapidlySlush Ice or RSW much faster than iceStore at Ice or Frozen temperatures for shrimp and fishStore cool and alive for crabsSell Seafood at storage temperatures for consumer control during drive home

FPL & Seafood Product SafetySell consumers only high quality seafood that has a long shelf life ahead of itDo NOT sell any seafood that was poorly handled or has been on the boat too longBecause of the Direct Sale, High Quality and Wholesomeness are your controls for seafood product safety

FPL SUMMARYUsing the Fresh Product License is an opportunity that LDWF has provided the commercial fishermen in Louisiana to selling your whole and unprocessed catch directly to consumers and improve your profitability and viability.

FPL SUMMARYProviding High Quality, sanitary, well-handled and chilled seafood directly to the consumer is your control for seafood product safety and to maintain this business improvement opportunity.

Louisiana Wild Certified Shrimp Program (LWCS)2 Formats under development

Authenticity ProgramProgram document submitted, under review and commentIndicates that packaged seafood is harvested, landed, processed in LaSeafood harvested by La licensed fishers is in program

Louisiana Wild Certified Shrimp Program (LWCS)Authenticity Program (cont.)Voluntary for Docks, Processors Must keep La seafood separatedTrip Tickets, Invoices Comply with existing regulationsCan use program Logo on productsMarketing & Promotion supportLSPMB funding

Louisiana Wild Certified Shrimp Program (LWCS)Premium ProgramEarlier stage developmentIncludes Authenticity requirementsVoluntary for Fishers, Docks, ProcessorsProgram Training in Best PracticesRequired product specificationsPremium Logo on productsLSPMB Marketing & Promotion support

Electronic TraceabilityBuilds on Trip Tickets to control and track La seafood through distributionDevelopment through Gulf States MFCPilot Project with Gulf oyster industryHarvester-Dealer-Shipping-CustomerCan include additional data & sensorsTimes, TemperaturesCan support Marketing effortsDifferentiation in the marketplace

SustainabilityLa (LDWF) and Gulf (GSMFC) effortsPotential partneringAudubon Institute3rd Party VerifiersPromote & provide Buyers informationData, assurance of responsible fisheries managementSupport differentiation in the marketplaceImportant to, required by, industry buyers

LDWF Seafood UniversityDesigned to serve as a continuing education tool and resource Initial development of structure, approach Support industry in a positive, innovative and collaborative mannerProvide useful & desired information Successful examples exist in other states & countries to support fisheries

General Courses for FishermenEquipment BMPS-Electronic Traceability-No Cost Program-Company/Business Benefit(s) (Product Differentiation)

Gear Technology

Management (Fisheries Science)

Sustainability-Maximizing Company/Business Benefit(s)-Compliance

Seafood Quality (LWSCP)-Domestic And Foreign Market Opportunities (Department Of Commerce)SummaryThe goal of this presentation was to provide a better understanding of the usefulness of the Fresh Products License.

As well as a quick overview of LDWF projects that are intended to support Louisiana fisheries and their viability.

Questions or Comments?