Alabama Gulf Seafood Summit

Statewide elected officials, fisherman, retailers, wholesalers, and chefs gathered today at the Mobile Convention Center for the first Alabama Gulf Seafood Summit. What I hope will be the first of many organized events to promote the industry and bring all the necessary folks to the same table seemed like a big hit for all involved. I was honored to be there, listen and observe some heavy hitters of the industry, like the Governor, buyers for Whole Foods, the Ag Commissioner, folks from the Dept of Conservation, the Grocers Assoc and more. There were lots of interesting ideas, networking, and plenty mention of the debilitating oil spill and its effects on the industry.

With all that said, I left the event as confused and frustrated as ever before- and not just because a stalled out train was blocking my car under the Convention Center for what seemed like an eternity. I feel like there continues to be a disconnect between the Alabama seafood industry and the consumer… and I don’t know why.

I have been watching the large-scale PR campaign for Alabama Gulf Seafood since the oil spill and am impressed with the imagery of these evocative ads. They motivate me to go right now, “Turn here!” as some billboards say, and buy Alabama seafood. But where???

It is rare to find Alabama seafood in local and chain restaurants. It is rarer still to find it in grocery stores. It is next to impossible to find a seafood market anywhere between Orange Beach and Bayou la Batre. That means thousands of consumers in Mobile and Baldwin counties have inadequate access to local seafood. I know people who drive to Pensacola, Florida (another state entirely) to buy their fresh catch! My own house is within spitting distance of our waters and I do not know where to go to find seafood.

As a consumer I am frustrated enough, but as a buyer for a local grocery and restaurant, I feel the frustration on this end as well. There are very limited options for local catch. For a while I thought perhaps I was new to the industry, just didn’t know the right people or have the right suppliers. But at the Summit I found myself in a conversation with several other market and restaurant owners, chefs and caterers who said the same. Where is the local seafood? Why is so hard for me to buy for my stores and my customers?

Why is there such a disconnect between the seafood producers and the consumers? Is the demand for local products just not there? There must be some obstacles preventing this fresh seafood from reaching Alabamians. Perhaps its government regulation, or conservation limits on fin fish, or irregular supply from fisherman and uncooperative distributors. When it all comes down to it, though, I think the blame needs to be put squarely on the face of the consumers. I really can’t think of anyone else.

I know a few restaurants serve Alabama shrimp, or oysters when in season, but Swai and Tilapia are the norm, don’t kid yourselves. And if consumers are ok with that, or don’t care enough to even ask where its sourced, how will anything ever change?