Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster Houston in San Leon TX 4K Drone Video
Channel: Third Coast Drone
Date: 2021-03-14

Video By 
Third Coast Drone
https://www.thirdcoastdrone.com

Raz Halili 
Owner 
A second-generation oysterman and vice president of his family’s world-renowned fishery, Prestige Oysters, Raz Halili credits his work ethic, dedication and passion to his parents. His father, Johnny, migrated from the Balkans of Europe during a tumultuous time in the regions history, settling in the United States. His mother, Lisa, weathered many cold winters and hot summers oystering and shrimping by Johnny’s side in order to build the family business. Together, through hard work and determination, they achieved the American Dream, while instilling in their son, Raz, a strong sense of food, family, and culture, including while spending time with extended family during annual trips to Kosovo. 
To encourage his educational pursuits, Halili’s parents forbade him from working in the Prestige office until after he graduated college, but that didn’t keep him from learning the trade. Beginning as a youngster, he worked his way up from helping retail customers at the market to unloading boats, loading trucks and driving fork lifts in the processing plant, to first learning the ropes aboard a boat—the Bad Johnny—under Captain Coyote. He was 16 when he first captained his own boat and continued to do so each summer through high school and college, working in the Galveston Bay before sunrise and coming back with a haul each afternoon. Over these summers, Halili developed a deep appreciation for the oyster and its contribution both to the ecosystem and in providing livelihoods for the hard- working crews. 
Despite fond memories of growing up on the fishing docks of San Leon, swimming in the marina, watching the shrimp and oyster boats come in, and captaining his own boat, Halili’s dream was to become a professional soccer player. Ever a ball at his feet—being kicked around with fishing crews and often lost to the Gulf waters—Halili followed his aspirations to Houston Baptist University, where he was recruited to play Division 1 soccer. Though the young baller aspired to travel and play for European football clubs at the highest level, after earning his bachelor’s degree in communications he opted to retire his cleats to follow his parents’ footsteps and his own passion for oystering. 
Stepping into a higher postion and greater responsibility in operating Prestige Oysters, Halili initially oversaw sales, expanding the company’s customer base to service the majority of Houston restaurants and major food distribution houses throughout the Southeast. With his initiative, the operation has grown to global scale, providing hundreds of jobs in Texas and Louisiana. “Oystering is very honorable work,” says Halili. “It’s very labor intensive, battling the elements to make sure there are oysters for next week’s market. When these guys leave at the end of the day, they feel good about the work they’ve done. When you do it properly—sustainably—you’re not just taking but also replenishing.” 
Sustainability in fishery has been another top priority for Halili, which is why he led Prestige Oysters in the arduous three-year assessment by the Marine Stewardship Council to become the first MSC-certified fishery in the Americas. Demonstrating the company’s commitment to providing a sustainable product for customers, Prestige Oysters’ conservancy efforts include recycling 100 percent of the shells they process, enriching the reefs with limestone contributions to encourage natural growth, and not overfishing reefs and bays to both ensure their conservation and year-round availability.
Now, with the opening of Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, Halili welcomes the challenges and opportunities that this new adventure holds. With unique access to the freshest, highest quality Gulf seafood, he looks forward to providing guests with a tide-to-table experience, where they can enjoy the delicious bounties harvested from nearby waters in an inviting, laid-back environment. Through Pier 6, Halili also hopes to educate customers about seasonality in seafood and offer the unique chance to taste oysters from different regions of the Gulf for a hyper local sense of terroir. Bringing on award-winning Executive Chef Joe Cervantez to lead the kitchen, Halili is creating a special gathering space and culinary destination for their Gulf Coast neighbors and area visitors alike. 
Halili lives in Dickinson, Texas, with his wife and young daughter. He serves on the boards of several fishery organizations, including as President of the Gulf Seafood Foundation, Stronger America Through Seafood, the Gulf Seafood Institute and the Gulf Oyster Industry Council.