With 90 percent of U.S. seafood consumption coming from fish imported from other countries, New York State is looking to identify ways to promote locally caught seafood through legislation recently signed by Governor Cuomo that will create a New York State Seafood Marketing Task Force. The bill was supported by State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and State Senator Ken LaValle.
The Task Force will address ways to grow resources and data available to the State's local fishermen, aquaculturists and associated small businesses, develop the marketing of and sustainability of New York seafood, and examine previous studies, pilot programs and initiatives of both New York and other states to find the most effective seafood marketing practices.
"The fishing and seafood industry is a critical part of Long Island's and New York State's economy. It is imperative that these industries be competitive and sustainable. In recent month's Senator LaValle and I have initiated new initiatives to promote these goals," Assemblyman Thiele stated. "Earlier this fall, we brought the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to Long Island to meet with our fishermen to explore existing barriers to a viable commercial fishery such as inequitable federal quotas and the existing restrictive state licensing scheme. Also important is growing New York State's market share of the increasing demand for seafood."
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