12/03/2025
We are so very lucky to have had the opportunity to attend another Local Seafood Summit in Gulf Shores, Alabama, in November. This time, Talia, Tasha, and Ronnie went; and Victoria, Feini, and Ms. Val were also there.
There were so many highlights, it’s hard to know where to start! The amazing Diane Wilson gave the keynote, and talked about her work fighting (and winning) against the plastics corporations polluting her home in coastal Texas. We also got to meet Kung Li Sun, author of Begin It All Over, a delicious q***r alternate history novel set in the post-American Revolution period. It was a joy to reconnect with so many old friends and mentors and champions, and meet folks we’d previously corresponded with over email.
We went to sessions about boat-to-school programs, international guidelines for small-scale fisheries, community-based processing centers, creative ways to use the whole fish, seafood food pantry programs, and more! Of course, the food was amazing. Summit participants brought their own seafood with them and chefs at the lodge made delicious dishes with it.
None of us had ever been to the Gulf coast of Alabama before, and wow was it beautiful! Big wide white sand beaches with gently lapping turquoise waves. It was also really nice to get some in-person time with each other; almost all of our work time is spent on videocalls, so getting to be together at the conference was great. We had a great time, and are eager to continue the relationships that were strengthened or created with our time at the Local Seafood Summit this year.
