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Friday, 05 October 2007 |
By SCBIZ Staff
CHARLESTON -- Wild American Shrimp Inc. has announced plans to introduce a self-funding process to secure the future of the certification and marketing program for the domestic shrimping industry.
Beginning in January 2008, Wild American Shrimp will be funded by a combination of federal government assistance, voluntary industry contributions, foundation grant applications and a financial assessment to be paid on each pound of Certified Wild American Shrimp sold.
The strategies were approved by unanimous vote by the WASI board earlier this week, and are being communicated to approved suppliers of WASI products today.
"To ensure the future of this program we need to rely less on a single source of funding and more on our own abilities to pay for our successful programs and activities," said Dennis Henderson, president of WASI.
WASI has been funded by the federal government through grants for the organization. The step towards self-funding has been contingent on the success of WASI's activities, and the new announcement is a clear indication of the industry's support and regard for the program.
The funding program will constitute three areas of focus: WASI applications for private grants from both the shrimping industry and relevant foundations, federal grant applications, and an assessment of five cents a pound of shrimp meeting the certified standards and carrying the WASI seal.
The latter assessment is a fee to be paid by approved suppliers of the certified product.
Wild American Shrimp Inc. works to raise public awareness about the benefits of domestic, wild- caught shrimp and supports the shrimp industry of eight Gulf and South Atlantic states: South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.
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