In late October 2017, a group of six visitors from Indonesia arrived in Pensacola as part of an U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled Maritime Economic Development and Environmental Protection. The professional objectives of the project were “to assess the effect of federal and state laws regulating the commercial fishing industry; to learn how fishing communities respond to profitability variation; to explore aquaculture, port facilities, fish processing and marketing; to examine law enforcement practices; to evaluate economic and environment impacts of conservation efforts; and to explore how tourist and recreation businesses benefit from responsible resource stewardship.”
Zachary Schang, an environment specialist, met with the visitors for a meeting and service activity on behalf of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP). The visit highlighted how the agency enforces environmental laws, the regulatory role of the FLDEP, and its relationship to the federal and state government.
The visitors met with Escambia County Extension Service Sea Grant Manager Rick O’Connor to further explore recreational fishing practices as well as fisheries management, and a welcome orientation at Pensacola City Hall with Councilmember Sherri Myers focused on the functions of city government.
A meeting with Bob DeMauro of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allowed the visitors to learn about the challenges and successes the state entity faces and its role in economic development. The Florida Wildlife Commission, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, works to restore freshwater fish to area waters with depleted populations. This was followed with a meeting with Rebecca Ferguson of the City of Pensacola Department of Economic Development which highlighted maritime investment pursuits made by the city. As Economic Policy Coordinator, Ms. Ferguson focuses on development projects and works to attract foreign investment and trade to the metropolitan area.
For such a short stay, our Maritime Economic Development and Environmental Protection group covered a lot of territory. Susan Senkarik served as their volunteer facilitator, answering the group’s questions between meetings and introducing them to the area as only a local can. Her efforts were complimented by a fantastic Halloween welcome at the home of Eben and Magali Posey.
It is this balance between engaging with experts, participating in service activities, and experiencing hospitality which makes time in northwest Florida professionally rewarding and memorable to IVLP participants. The community goes to great lengths to create bridges between locals and exchange participants, and our visitors left Florida with an expanded network and having met their professional objectives.
