The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Friday announced three captains from the Discovery Channel's reality show, "Deadliest Catch," will pitch Florida seafood in a new public awareness campaign.
Captains Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern and Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Time Bandit will appear in TV spots and print and Web-based media promoting the state's fishing industry.
The public service announcements will begin airing statewide in December.
"Whether fishing in subfreezing temperatures in the Bering Sea or in balmy waters off the Florida coast, America's commercial fishermen understand the hard work that goes into bringing in their catch," said Charles Bronson, Florida Agriculture commissioner. "I'm delighted that Sig, Johnathan and Andy are lending their status as internationally known fishing captains to help us raise public awareness of the important contributions that Florida's fishermen make to our state and nation."
Florida's fishing industry has faced numerous challenges in recent years including hurricanes, competition with imported seafood and high fuel prices.
Florida's commercial fishing industry annually harvests 83 million pounds of seafood and leads the United States in the number of seafood processing businesses.
October 5, 2009
