FROM LOUISIANA SEAFOOD NEWS | May 28, 2010
by Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
As the Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Ewell Smith knows a picture is worth a thousand words.
One month after Hurricane Katrina crippled the Louisiana seafood industry Louisiana Gulf seafood had a clean bill of health, however it took more than two years to rebuild the brand.
”Since the first images of oil in the Gulf of Mexico appeared in the media, Smith has been experiencing a bit of déjà vu and working relentlessly to answer the two questions everyone are asking: Is the seafood safe? And, who’s fault is this?
We had a clean bill of health one month after Katrina, but it took two years to rebuild our brand.”
The world’s mainstream news media has been contacting Smith for comments. USA Today, NY Times, National Geographic, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, NPR, PBS Newshour, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Fox Business, the Canadian Globe and Mail, The Associated Press and Reuters … the list goes on and on.
“You name it, we’ve talked to them. The BBC was just here.”
Not interested in playing the blame game, Smith and his team focus conversations on the clean up process and getting everyone back in business. “Recently, we had 80 chefs on a conference call, going over talking points so that we’re all talking on message.”
That message is that Louisiana Seafood is safe, and delicious too.
“Today, 70 percent of the coastline is open, and a significant proportion of the 30 percent is precautionary closures. Priority number one is the safety of consumers.”
Geographically, that’s a lot of territory – Louisiana has nearly 400 miles of coastline and more than 7,000 miles of tidal coastline.
Louisiana seafood is tested and monitored by multiple government and private institutions including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Services.
“When you are dealing with this much media you have to make sure to stay on point and not get too emotional.” Advice Smith may be giving to himself.
After Katrina, Smith wrote, composed, and recorded a song entitled Loving Louisiana. The newly revised final line – a talking point straight from the heart – “Don’t forget the fishermen.”
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