Consumer Resources

What seafood is fresh, local and in season in North Carolina? Where can you purchase local, high-quality seafood? How do you select and prepare safe, flavorful seafood? North Carolina Sea Grant, in collaboration with local and state partners, helps consumers make educated decisions about the seafood they purchase and enjoy year-round from North Carolina’s fishermen, retailers, markets, stores and restaurants.

Recipes

Get inspired by these kitchen-tested recipes from Mariner’s Menu. New recipe every week!

Seasonal Availability

This guide can give you a general idea of what seafood is available in North Carolina, when it is in season, and associated recipes.

Fish Flavors and Substitutions

Different fish have different flavors, but you can almost always substitute in most recipes

How to Select and Store Seafood

What to look for when selecting seafood at the market, how much to buy, and storage tips.

Market Forms of Fish and Cleaning

How to clean and prepare different fish and shellfish.

Catch Groups

Looking for local seafood along the coast? NC Catch, in partnership with local catch groups, works to strengthen the North Carolina seafood economy through promotion and education. These groups are here to help.

Carteret Catch

NC Catch

North Carolina Sea Grant collaborates with North Carolina fishermen to develop brands that distinguish local seafood from their competition. This helps consumers who prefer local products over imports when given a choice. Our extension specialists helped develop and guide these Catch organizations to communicate when local species are seasonally available and where local seafood can be purchased along the North Carolina coast.

Contacts

Barry Nash, seafood technology and marketing specialist
252-222-6337, barry_nash@ncsu.edu
Nash is the point of contact for information on discerning the quality of seafood and safe handling in the home.

Scott Baker, fisheries specialist
910-962-2492, bakers@uncw.edu
Baker focuses on the fisheries south of Cape Hatteras to the North Carolina/South Carolina border.

Sara Mirabilio, fisheries extension specialist
252-475-5488, saram@csi.northcarolina.edu
Mirabilio focuses on the fisheries north of Cape Hatteras to the North Carolina/Virginia border.