When the first news flash crossed the wires of a BP oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, Ewell Smith, director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, knew his industry had a potential problem. When the Deepwater Horizon rig sunk into the gulf waters, Smith realized he had a full-blown crisis on his hands.
As the world’s media started to gather in New Orleans, the Seafood Board realized it needed a new tool to have a more active voice in getting its story heard. The rapid dissemination of information, as well as the media’s focus on the capping of the spilling oil, led to the creation of LouisianaSeafoodNews.com.
“We realized that the initial attention being given to BP and the capping of the well was hampering our ability to get our story told. We needed to have the public informed about seafood safety, as well as the potential dangers the spill could have on the Louisiana fishing industry,” said Smith. “The newsroom gave us a voice at a time we needed to be heard. It got us noticed by CNN, Fox, ABC, the BBC and others.”
The newsroom also became intertwined into the Seafood Board’s marketing effort to combat negative consumer and industry perception of Louisiana and Gulf seafood.
During BP Oil Spill, “Don’t Forget the Fishermen”
Since the first images of oil in the Gulf of Mexico appeared in the media, Ewell Smith, the Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, has been contacted by the world’s mainstream news media and everyone is asking: Is the seafood safe? And, who’s fault is this?
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Black Drum -The Rodney Dangerfield of Louisiana Finfish – Finally Gets Some Respect
At times Douglas Olander feels he has built a living from the Rodney Dangerfield of the fish world, Black Drum– it just get no respect. Thirty years ago the Louisiana Black Drum, a fish that is found in near shore coastal waters, couldn’t be given away, let alone sold.