Securing the Future of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry

Across the nation, commercial fishing fleets are aging and shrinking as younger people explore careers outside the industry. This “graying of the fleet” threatens the resilience of North Carolina’s seafood industry.

Training and career development are key to ensuring the next generation can thrive on the water. Over the last decade, North Carolina Sea Grant extension staff have worked to strengthen the seafood workforce, building on existing efforts and creating new activities and resources. Some highlights include:

Strengthening Leadership in North Carolina’s Commercial Fishing Communities

With 2016-2018 core funding, North Carolina Sea Grant supported East Carolina University anthropologist David Griffith’s project, “Next-Generation Leadership: Social Capital in North Carolina Fishing Communities.” Collaborating with Barbara Garrity-Blake, Susan West, and fisheries extension specialist Sara Mirabilio, the team studied leadership capacity in the state’s commercial fishing communities and ways to strengthen it.

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Fish Camp: Empowering Tomorrow’s Commercial Fishers

An extension of David Griffith’s research, “Fish Camp” was a commercial fishing workforce development program launched by fisheries extension specialists Sara Mirabilio and Scott Baker in January 2018. This three-day, retreat-style training builds capacity and workforce skills for North Carolina’s seafood industry. Fish Camp has been held three times (2018, 2020, and 2023), with over 55 participants completing the program.

The training provides young fishers with practical knowledge, fosters partnerships, and even includes innovative collaborations—such as with PBS-NC to teach communication skills.

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Designing Career-Development for Those Earning a Living off the Water

Sea Grant programs in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia addressed “graying of the fleet” concerns through a NOAA Sea Grant 2021 Special Projects initiative. The project, “A Next Gen Seafood Industry: Framing a Career-Development Program for those Earning a Living off the Water,” explored workforce development strategies to recruit, train, and support the next generation in commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood industries across the South Atlantic region.

Between October 2021 and January 2022, extension specialists hosted eight focus groups to assess workforce challenges, training needs, and opportunities. Key takeaways included the critical need for reliable, skilled workers and the value of field-based, hands-on learning through apprenticeships. The findings provide a planning framework for future workforce development initiatives.skills.

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Fostering Growth of the Southeast’s Commercial Seafood Industry

A two-year project in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia — funded through NOAA Sea Grant’s 2023 “Young Fishermen’s Career Development Projects” competition — helped advance the near-term goals of the South Atlantic Planning Framework. In partnership with Carteret Community College, the project piloted a Commercial Fishing Academy that provided paid apprenticeships, industry-focused safety training, and greater access to liability insurance resources. A regional advisory committee also worked to preserve local seafood culture. Together, these efforts aimed to prepare the next generation of seafood professionals with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to succeed.

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Introductory Fisheries Science for Fishers

From 2019-2023, our Introductory Fisheries Science for Fishers online class series has provided 194 commercial and recreational fishers with essential knowledge about fisheries science and management. This program bridges the gap between scientific understanding and practical fishing practices. Stay tuned for updates on when the next course will be offered!

2024 speaker lineup