Local Catch: North Carolina Seafood Availability
The Local Catch project started several years ago with a simple idea. Employees and volunteers at the N.C. Aquariums were consistently being asked the same question about local seafood by visitors, “What fish are in season in this area?” The Aquariums, as a part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources responded by educating people about seasonal local seafood availability by partnering with Sea Grant to create an easily accessible wallet card that people can reference about a certain type of seafood. Four different cards were printed, one for each season. Each card describes what fish are commercially caught during that season, as well as how they are caught. The information on the cards was drawn from Sea Grant’s popular North Carolina Seafood Availability poster, which was created through a partnership including Sea Grant, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Sustainable Fisheries
The mission of the Local Catch project is to create awareness about sustainable fisheries, and that fisheries are seasonal. Each card presents a different set of “Quality Counts” tips for selecting seasonal fresh seafood. Sustainable harvesting means we will enjoy seafood today and in the future. Species listed as North Carolina “Local Catch” are managed for long-term viability. The cards also list websites that people can access for more information on sustainable seafood. Examples include searching for a seafood market or dealer at the NCDACS Seafood Marketing website at www.nc-seafood.org, viewing the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries stock status reports at www.ncdmf.net/stocks, or researching federal efforts for sustainable fisheries at www.fishwatch.noaa.gov. Interviews with local Carteret County fishermen are available at www.carteretcatch.org.
Local Catch Cards
Pick up a copy at any of the NC Aquariums or download one below.