Robert P. Jones is being honored for his 50-year career with Southeastern Fisheries Association in June at the 62nd annual SFA meeting in St. Augustine, FL.
As the leader of SFA for the past 50 years, Executive Director Bob Jones ' efforts and passion have impacted the Commercial and Recreational Fisheries, the Florida Government and the Federal Government, seafood consumers, Fish Markets, Florida restaurants and hotels and a variety of related industries.
Jones is a native Floridian. Born in Palatka, his early years were spent near a fish camp in Vilano Beach, FL. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in St. Augustine, FL. Jones served our nation in the USMC for five years, and prior to joining SFA, he was the Internal Affairs Manager of the U.S. Jaycees at the national headquarters in Tulsa, OK. Now living in Tallahassee, he is a long-time Seminole fan, fisherman, golfer, and self-professed fried chicken connoisseur. He graduated from college at the age of 64, and published his first book at the age of 78, A Culture Worth Saving. His second book, Death at the Inlet, was published this year.
Since 1964 Jones has been leading the charge for commercial fishing entities in the Southeastern Fisheries Association (www.SFAonline.org). Some of his career highlights include leading trade delegation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Japan concerning underutilized species, serving as the U.S. representative in diplomatic talks with Mexico and the Bahamas, and being a former Aquaculture Consultant to Hindustan Lever in India. Jones is a Certified Seafood HACCP Trainer and has trained and certified staff at more than 1,000 firms in the seafood industry.
Jones was instrumental in the development of the Fisheries Council systems, the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, the Alaskan Pipeline and currently leading the way in ensuring the seafood on your plate is what you ordered, through his efforts in utilizing the latest technology in DNA species identification.
With no plans to retire in the near future, Bob continues to lead SFA in 2014 and beyond on such issues as product substitution education to stop consumer seafood fraud, ongoing education to all stakeholders on fisheries as a sustainable resource, continu-ing to push for precise science in stock assessments and working in partnership with industry and government to protect rights to the resource for recreation and consumption in your local region and the world.
Bob married his high school sweetheart Malinda Usina in 1955 and they raised 5 children and have 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He is a dedicated family man and has strong and untiring support for our military, both active and retired.
Bob’s overarching contribution has been to help shape policy to keep seafood businesses in business, to keep seafood products sustainable and accessible for all and keep a steady of supply of domestically produced seafood products accessible to consum-ers, through retail markets, grocery stores and restaurants.
About the Southeastern Fisheries Association
SFA’s mission is to defend, protect and enhance the commercial fishing industry in the southeastern United States for present participants as well as future generations through all legal means while maintaining healthy and sustainable stocks of fish. For more information, go to www.SFAonline.org
Source: Southeastern Fisheries Association
