Steve Otwell wins Lifetime Achievement Award for Seafood Safety Work
Steve Otwell, a Florida Sea Grant seafood specialist emeritus has been awarded the Trans-Atlantic Fisheries Technology Conference 2015 Lifetime Achievement award.
George Baker named new Florida Sea Grant Seafood Specialist
Baker hopes to develop new relationships with Florida companies that supply, purchase and prepare seafood and determine what issues they may be facing and work to solve them.
Lionfish: Is it Safe to Eat?
Lionfish is not a traditional or likely seafood selection, but growing interest in response to its invasive and increasing abundance has stirred recreational and commercial interest. Seafood specialist Steve Otwell offers this perspective. Handling Eating lionfish, Pterois miles or Pterois volitans, is being encouraged as one of the best options to mitigate the harmful…
Apalachicola Bay Oyster Situation Report
This report summarizes efforts conducted through the University of Florida Oyster Recovery Team, in collaboration with various stakeholders, to describe conditions in Apalachicola Bay prior to and after a historic collapse of the oyster fishery. The report characterizes conditions in the bay, reviews possible causes for the fishery collapse, and outlines a plan for future…
Tips for avoiding fake grouper
Grouper is one of Florida’s most valuable commercial fisheries. In 2011 over 6.9 million pounds were landed in the state with an estimated dockside value of over $19 million. However,because of its economic value, popularity among consumers, and limited supply, grouper has been the target of species substitution and mislabeling by some wholesalers, restaurants, and…
The Blue Revolution
Where will our seafood come from in the future? There has been a truly amazing revolution going on in our lifetime. The past four decades have seen the birth and rapid growth of the world fish farming industry. Currently, almost half (47%) of seafood is produced by farming (also called aquaculture). If the industry continues…
Oil Spills and Seafood Safety FAQs
Advisory prepared by Steve Otwell, Ph.D. Seafood Specialist, Florida Sea Grant College Program Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida (Last updated June 25, 2010) Is seafood from Florida’s Gulf coast safe to eat? All seafood sold in Florida retail stores, supermarkets and restaurants will remain safe to consume prior to and…
A new raw oyster choice soon to be in market
Commercial Validation of Irradiation Technique Obtains FDA Approval A new processing method effective against harmful bacteria will give raw oyster lovers new options — and provide a boost to Florida’s oyster industry as well. Florida Sea Grant researchers have been working with industry partners in the Gulf of Mexico to develop the technical standards that…