A vacation to the Outer Banks is never complete without enjoying a big plate of your favorite fresh seafood prepared in one of the many fabulous restaurants or eateries in the area. Columbia to Swanquarter, Ocracoke to Corolla, the Outer Banks has a multi-generational community of commercial fishermen who earn their living harvesting fresh, healthy seafood. In fact, the Outer Banks are the largest in terms of revenue and the importance of commercial fishing in the state of North Carolina.
Today, many of our Outer Banks commercial fishing families are in danger of becoming extinct. The U.S. fishing industry is being hit hard by increased and ever-changing regulations, rising fuel costs and foreign seafood. As a result, many fishermen are being forced to find other professions.
At a recent Property Management Council meeting, Sun Realty staff had the pleasure of listening to Dorothy Toolan, a representative of the non-profit organization Outer Banks Catch. Outer Banks Catch is a Currituck, Dare, Hyde and Tyrrell County program designed to promote and educate seafood lovers about the numerous advantages of requesting seafood in season and locally caught. Did you know that 80% of all seafood is imported, only 2% is inspected and ½ of them fail the inspection!? That means the shrimp and fish locals and visitors are eating may actually be from Vietnam or China. The only way to be sure your seafood is local is to ask for Outer Banks Catch by name and promote local seafood to friends and family. The consumer demand will result in food establishments buying locally and everyone wins! Look for the Outer Banks Catch ads on TV, also look for stickers and banners at participating businesses.
To read more about Outer Banks Catch, our local commercial fishermen and where to find local seafood, visit www.OuterBanksCatch.com.