{"id":21923,"date":"2017-06-09T15:48:53","date_gmt":"2017-06-09T19:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/currents\/?p=9715"},"modified":"2024-05-21T15:54:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T19:54:10","slug":"north-carolina-seafood-questions-and-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/north-carolina-seafood-questions-and-answers\/","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Seafood: Questions and Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buying local seafood may seem challenging, but North Carolina Sea Grant offers numerous resources to help you make safe and informed decisions.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the questions I prepared for a presentation for agents at North Carolina Cooperative Extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How available is North Carolina seafood around the state?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

North Carolina seafood is easily available along the coast but becomes harder to find the further inland you travel, according to 2012 research by the East Carolina University College of Business and North Carolina Sea Grant. In North Carolina, east-to-west supply chains traditionally were underdeveloped, whereas transporting seafood to northern markets (e.g., Washington, Baltimore, New York) had been well established over generations using I-95 as a trucking corridor.<\/p>\n

Even though I-40, US 64 and other routes are now available, deliveries to the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte are often handled by smaller operations. The size of these inland delivery companies means that, although local seafood is available farther from the coast, supply is limited.<\/p>\n

Where do I find local seafood in my community in North Carolina?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Buy from a reputable seafood retailer, and ask which items were landed by North Carolina fishermen. Find sellers who are candid about the origins of their selections. When you\u2019re visiting the coast, learn of the establishments that offer local seafood by checking out Brunswick Catch in the southern coastal region, Carteret Catch<\/a> in the central region, Outer Banks Catch<\/a> in the northern region, and Ocracoke Fresh<\/a> along the southern part of the Outer Banks.<\/p>\n

Does seafood have a season like fruits and vegetables?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, and North Carolina Sea Grant has numerous resources available on the Consumer Awareness<\/a> page to help you figure out what is available by season, as well as by coastal region. For some history about the seasonality of local seafood, check out Scott Baker\u2019s blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>
The Quality Counts chart lists how to select high-quality seafood. Click on the image for larger version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How can consumers know they are purchasing the highest-quality seafood?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sea Grant developed this chart<\/a> to inform consumers what to look for when purchasing various types of seafood and to make sure they are buying the best and safest options.<\/p>\n

How can consumers preserve the quality and safety of seafood at home?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find some tips in Mariner\u2019s Menu<\/em> and the Sea Grant seafood availability and freshness charts. Here are some general rules to follow:<\/p>\n