Task force nominates Tunaskin founders for Mulholland stewardship award; unanimous recommendation to council

The Marine and Environmental Resource Task Force unanimously moved to advise Fort Myers Beach Town Council to award the Mulholland award to Bill Bransord and Mitch Fusick, founders of Tunaskin.

Task force chair David Nussbaum read the application on the record and nominated “tuna skin founders Bill Bransord and Mitch Fusick and the entire tuna skin team” for the award. The application cited Tunaskin’s founding in 2009, the opening of the Fort Myers Beach location in 2015, the creation of a Beachkeepers Club with hundreds of volunteers and the company’s contributions to reef restoration, community recovery after Hurricane Ian and charitable donations.

The committee noted that Tunaskin's Beachkeepers Club organized the 2025 cleanup that enlisted more than 400 volunteers and removed over three tons of garbage; the company also donated $5,000 to Keep Lee County Beautiful. The committee discussed the single application received by the town clerk and then approved a motion to advise council to present the Mulholland award to the nominees.

Action result: Motion to advise Town Council to award the Mulholland award to the Tunaskin founders was made, seconded and carried unanimously.

Next steps: The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Council for formal award action at council discretion.