A gold banned banner is displayed in the reception office of Senator David Vitter from Louisiana. Photo: Ed Lallo/Louisiana Seafood News
by Ed Lallo/Louisiana Seafood News
Special to Louisiana Seafood News
One of the strongest voices promoting the Louisiana seafood community around the globe suffered a massive heart condition Friday. He remains in guarded condition, but according to his daughter Sarah Theroit Voisin’s Facebook page has started to respond with small movements.
Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafoods, current Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioner, former Chairman of the National Fisheries Institute, former chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task force and founder of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, was admitted to intensive care at Terrebonne General Hospital in Houma, Louisiana.
Voisin, an outspoken voice supporting both the quality of Louisiana seafood and the seafood community culture, has been instrumental in educating the public, media and political leaders on the importance of the Louisiana seafood business to the state, the Gulf and the world.
“This is a terrible tragedy on so many levels,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. “Our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery go out to Mike and his family.”
Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafoods, current Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioner, former Chairman of the National Fisheries Institute, former chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task force and founder of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. Photo: Louisiana Seafood News
According to Smith, Voisin was to lead a seafood delegation to Washington, DC this week in a yearly pilgrimage to “Walk the Hill” – a meet-and-greet of influential Gulf State legislators.
“This is our annual trip to D.C. to educate congressmen, senators and their staffs on the issues key to Louisiana seafood,” he explained. “Mike has always played the key role in setting the program and leading the state’s seafood delegation.”
According to Lucian Gunter, CEO of New Orleans Acme Oyster House “the time and effort Mike puts into his family business and the fishing industry as a whole is beyond extraordinary.”
“His condition is very worrisome, not only to Acme Oyster House, but to me as an individual. As a father and a husband he is someone that is near and dear to all of us,” he said. ”He has a mentor; someone to look up to and emulate.”
On Capitol Hill, the Louisiana Congressional delegation has shown support for Voisin by attaching a yellow ribbon representing his Gold Band Oysters to the Louisiana Seafood tins displayed in their Congressional offices.
The tins, part of a point of sale marketing campaign for restaurants and retailers, were recently shipped to the offices by the Louisiana Seafood Board in time for the industry’s annual trip.
One of the first to display the yellow ribbon draped banner was Rep. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana’s sixth district.
“Mike is one of the best known ambassadors for Louisiana seafood,” said Margret Henderson of Henderson Strategies who represents Friends of the Fishermen. “When you enter a Louisiana congressional office the first thing they ask is about Mike’s condition.”
Smith said the Louisiana Congressional delegation has shown support for Voisin by displaying the ribbon draped tins in their offices. “Mike is loved not only in Louisiana, but also in the offices of those that represent the state on the hill.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike and his family as his recovery progresses,” said Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries secretary Robert Barham.
“First of all Mike is a great friend and I am very concerned about his health,” said Tommy Citonovich, owner of Drago’s Restaurants in New Orleans.
Even though Drago’s buys a limited amount of oysters from Motivatit Seafood, Cvitanovich will never forget when Mike told him “he will do everything in his power to make sure Drago’s and Acme Oyster house will never run out of oysters” following Hurricane Katrina and again during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“Mike knew the importance to the seafood community, the city of New Orleans and the culture of Louisiana to keep both establishments supplied with oysters,“ said Cvitanovich. “That is how dedicated he is to Louisiana. During both crisis’s I only had three shifts when I didn’t have charbroiled oysters to serve.”
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