Sealife is our passion here in Southeastern Louisiana. Our livelihood, our entertainment, our very sustenance comes from the bayous, gulf and ocean which surround us. As our ancestors demonstrated – if it didn’t come out of the seas, they didn’t eat it!
Ivo Bilich and his wife, Stephanie, have been fishing, oystering and shrimping the Gulf waters since childhood. Both their families have been working on the water for over four generations. Ivo’s great grandfather came from Croatia to work oysters, carving out an existence in the wilds of the bayou.
Ivo, Stephanie and their families have a heartfelt commitment to Southeastern Louisiana and their home. Their love of the land and sea has kept them strong and committed through countless challenges. The area and their lives have been impacted multiple times over the generations; hurricanes Betsy, Camille and Katrina being the most well-known.
After the complete devastation by Katrina, both Ivo and Stephanie committed to rebuilding their home and livelihood from the sea. Unfortunately, the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010 created another hurdle for them, as it shut down the seafood industry once again.
The perseverance and the love of their home and lifestyle is what has created their newest business endeavor.