All in the Same Boat: Keys Guides Stand with Local Fishermen

Lower Keys Guides Association Urges Support for Local Seafood and Full-Time Fishing Guides

Key West, FL – August 14, 2025 — The Lower Keys Guides Association (LKGA) is calling on residents, visitors, and local businesses to choose Florida Keys–caught seafood and to book trips with full-time, locally based fishing guides.

“In the Florida Keys, fishing isn’t just a pastime—it’s our livelihood and our heritage,” said Allison Delashmit, Executive Director of LKGA. “When you buy local seafood or hire a local guide, you’re not only getting the highest quality product or experience, but you’re also supporting the families and businesses that keep our working waterfront alive.”

This call to action comes as both commercial fishermen and professional guides face mounting pressures from rising costs, competition from out-of-town operators, and an influx of imported seafood that undercuts local markets. LKGA stands in solidarity with Keys commercial fishermen who are advocating for fair market protections, including tariffs on imported seafood to level the playing field.

“Florida Keys fishermen are proud to harvest some of the highest-quality seafood in the world—but consumers rarely know they’re being served imported lobster and fish, selected not for quality, but for cost,” said Jerome Young, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman’s Association. “With no tariffs or trade protections in place, we’re forced to operate within a structurally imbalanced market. We believe that if seafood labeling laws made origin transparent, Americans would choose local—even at a higher price.”

LKGA sees a clear parallel between the challenges faced by commercial fishermen and those facing the guiding community. Just as imported seafood can push locally caught fish out of restaurants and markets, the growing presence of seasonal or out-of-town guides—many living hundreds of miles away—can displace opportunities for full-time, local professionals. In both cases, those who live and work in the Keys year-round are competing against operators who benefit from the resource without investing in its long-term health or the community it supports. To address this challenge, LKGA is actively working with the Monroe County Commission and other county leaders to develop solutions that preserve the role of full-time professional fishing guides while maintaining full public access to our waters. The goal is to strike a balance between open access and avoiding the kind of ecosystem-crushing pressure that can occur without careful management.

“With public support, we can level the field and let quality speak for itself,” added Young.  “Until then, wholesalers and restaurants won’t jeopardize their margins, and our coastal communities bear the consequences. We’ve provided proposed reform language directly to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and remain hopeful he’ll act to restore fairness and transparency to our seafood economy. We’ve also reached out to Congressman Carlos Gimenez, and every call or message to his office helps push this initiative forward.”

“Local is better—it’s that simple,” said Delashmit. “When you support local fishermen and guides, you’re investing in the future of the Florida Keys, our economy, and our way of life.”

About the Lower Keys Guides Association (LKGA)
The Lower Keys Guides Association represents nearly 90 professional fishing guides and over 150 anglers dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of the Florida Keys’ unique backcountry and offshore fisheries. Founded to protect the waters, wildlife, and heritage of the Lower Keys, LKGA actively engages in advocacy, education, and conservation projects. From collaborating with scientists on research initiatives to supporting habitat restoration and water quality improvements, LKGA works to ensure that the Florida Keys remain a thriving, world-class fishery for generations to come. Learn more at www.LKGA.org.

About the Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman’s Association (FKCFA)
The Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association (FKCFA) represents one of the nation’s most vital commercial fishing communities—home to over 350 federally permitted vessels operating from Key West to the Gulf Coast. FKCFA’s membership fuels the local economy, supports more than 1,600 families (nearly 5% of Monroe County’s population), and lands some of Florida’s most valuable seafood—80% of the state’s spiny lobster—making the fleet a cornerstone of both heritage and livelihoods. The Association organizes Keys fishermen into a united, effective voice, advocating for sustainable fisheries through cooperative research, fair regulation, and community partnerships at county, state, and federal levels. Committed to protecting the fishing industry and its cultural heritage, FKCFA ensures that Florida Keys seafood remains responsibly harvested, environmentally sound, and economically robust.

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