Fisheries Leadership Program Launches

The Fisheries & Seafood Leadership Program (FSLP) – spearheaded by Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG) – recently kicked-off its first class and workshop. The one-year program is designed to develop new leaders in the state’s fishing and seafood industry.

“This program has been in the planning stages since before the pandemic,” said Julie Falgout, LSG seafood industry liaison. “We’re excited about providing this opportunity to help our fishing industry become more resilient and advocate for their needs.”

Participants are learning about leadership skill building; effective communication; emerging technologies; business and marketing trends; commodity policy issues; national, state and community-level public policies; and economic development. Participants will graduate in Summer 2024.

“This program is perfect for emerging leaders in the seafood industry,” added Julie Lively, LSG executive director. “Boat owners and captains, deckhands, docks and processors, individuals in the insurance and finance industries, fisheries managers – it’s designed for anyone interested in helping our state’s seafood industry navigate the coming decades.”

Those participating in the first FSLP session in November were (pictured from left): Percy Dardar (World’s Finest Oysters), Christian Bergeron (office of Congressman Garret Graves), Lively, Douglas Olander (Big D’s Seafood), Elizabeth McLaughlin (office of Congressman Clay Higgins), Corey Olander (Reef Runner LLC), Kim Chauvin (David Chauvin’s Seafood Co.), Kindra Arnesen (fishing vessel Ms. Aleens), Eric Tran (Gulf South Inc.), Trudy Luke (Luke’s Seafood) and Falgout.