The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage reelected board members and confirmed its executive officers during an annual meeting July 21 at the old Cortez Fire Station in the village.
FISH is a nonprofit that formed in 1991 and is dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Cortez and the commercial fishing way of life.
The nonprofit reconfirmed seats on its board, including: Kim McVey, David Cadmus, Jane von Hahmann, Lance Plowman, Nathan Meschelle, Karen Bell, Pat Potts and Angela Collins. Five seats were up for reelection and all were retained by incumbents — Bell, Meschelle, Plowman, Collins and Potts.
Their reelection passed by unanimous vote, with no added nominations from the 15 FISH members in attendance.
“Congratulations to everybody for getting back on the board,” von Hahmann said after the vote.
The board then voted by acclamation to retain its current officers — McVey as president, Cadmus as vice president and von Hahmann as treasurer. Collins, a non-voting member, is secretary.
Following the vote, von Hahmann gave an overview of the group’s financial health, noting that FISH reduced its mortgage debt from over $80,000 to just over $36,000, thanks to a $50,000 anonymous donation.
She reported a strong financial year, bolstered by a $65,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation of Sarasota for improvements in the 95-acre FISH Preserve.
The board also reviewed ongoing storm recovery efforts in the preserve, which sustained major damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.
“Between this time last year and now, we’ve doubled the amount of walking trails in the preserve,” he said.
Garner said bridges and picnic shelters were under construction and a need remains for tree plantings to restore the storm-damaged coastal hammock.
There was also a review of the annual fishing festival, which netted more than $87,000.
The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 4, at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W.