[StBernard] Jim Gossen, President and CEO of Louisiana Foods Receives Gulf Guardian Award

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Thu Jun 9 17:46:05 EDT 2011


Jim Gossen, President and CEO of Louisiana Foods Receives Gulf Guardian
Award



(STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - June 9, 2011) - The Gulf of Mexico Program
recently announced that Jim Gossen, President and CEO of Louisiana Foods of
Houston, Texas will receive a Gulf Guardian Award for 2011 in the Individual
category. The Awards ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Gulf of
Mexico Alliance Meeting on August 3, 2011, beginning at 6 p.m in the
Ballroom at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place in New Orleans.



Native to Louisiana with Cajun roots, Jim Gossen has been an innovative and
tireless leader for the recovery of and improved sustainability of the
Gulf's seafood industry. Working for the industry as President and CEO of
Louisiana Foods of Houston, Texas, he has supported the diverse cultural
heritage of the seafood industry, promoted sustainable fisheries through
innovative marketing, and has been as ambassador for the regions fisherman.
Jim has put forward a vision of a healthy environment going hand in hand
with productive fisheries. He has been instrumental to the innovative
Louisiana Foods Total Catch Program, which promotes the use of the entire
catch to reduce wasteful by-catch. This has included a recent effort to
market oyster drills, an important predator of oysters that inflicts
enormous damage to the oyster fishery. Jim is a founding member of
Foodways Texas, an organization that promotes the cultural importance of the
Gulf and the food that surrounds that culture. By supporting the diverse
cultural heritage of the Gulf seafood industry, Jim has helped educate the
public about the importance of the Gulf environment as both an economic
engine and a home to diverse cultures. Jim is an Ambassador for the Gulf
Region and has been increasing a sense of stewardship amongst the Gulf
fishermen, wholesalers, chefs and the general public.



The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf Guardian awards in 2000 as a
way to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals,
and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy,
beautiful and productive. A first, second, and third place award are given
in seven categories: individual, business, youth environmental education,
civic/nonprofit organizations, cultural diversity/environmental justice,
partnership and bi-national efforts.



"The Gulf Guardian Award winners demonstrate great examples of collaborative
efforts leading to solutions that address the Gulf of Mexico environment,"
said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. "Their accomplishments are
making a positive difference in protecting and restoring the Gulf and EPA is
pleased to recognize their environmental stewardship."



The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore, and maintain
the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically
sustainable ways. The Gulf of Mexico Program is underwritten by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive
consortium of state and federal government agencies and representatives of
the business and agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists,
environmentalists, and community leaders from all five Gulf States. The
Gulf Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the Gulf in
concert with economic development.



Gloria Car, Acting Director of the Gulf of Mexico Program said, "This is the
11th year of the Gulf Guardian Awards Program, and I am proud to say that
each year the winners in all categories have represented the very best of
environmental accomplishments in the Gulf of Mexico. The partnership of the
Gulf of Mexico Program works to improve the environmental health of the
Gulf, and the Gulf Guardian Awards is an important way for us to recognize
these valuable efforts. The 2011 award winners truly exemplify the
enthusiastic and committed citizens, communities, governments, and
businesses who address complex problems to improve, protect, and sustain our
regional and national treasure, the Gulf of Mexico.



Editor's Note: For more information about the Gulf Guardian Awards and the
Gulf of Mexico Program, call the Gulf of Mexico Program Office at
228-688-3726 or visit our web site at http://www.epa.gov/gmpo
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo> .



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