The summit will be held on March 8 at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.  The event will be preceded by a Down East Clambake at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center at Harkers Island on March 7. The night’s guest speaker will be Outer Banks restauranteur Wes Stepp the author of “Tastefully Fit.

“Carteret Catch is proud to host the fifth annual summit,” said Pam Morris, president of Carteret Catch. “As the first host of this informative event, it is exciting to witness the explosion of businesses and consumer awareness created as a direct result of Catch group efforts throughout coastal North Carolina and beyond. We hope everyone who cares about the future of North Carolina seafood will attend.”

The theme of this year’s summit is “Real Local Seafood: The Taste of Things to Come” with Sea Grant’s Dr. Jane Harrison opening the all-day event with a discussion on the economic values, trends and growth potential for North Carolina seafood. Additional sessions include a chefs’ panel on sea-to-table restaurant trends, a case study on seafood tourism, and innovative techniques that add to the commercial fisherman’s bottom line.  The summit will conclude with an in-depth look at the nutritional benefits of seafood and how to promote that messaging to North Carolina’s health conscious consumers.

Jimmy Johnson, president of NC Catch, said, “We are incredibly excited to be back in Carteret County for the NC Catch Summit, and appreciate all the hard work Carteret Catch has undertaken to make it happen. The summit gives us an opportunity to report on the accomplishments of NC Catch, share success stories from across the state, and collaborate with industry stakeholders as we continue to promote North Carolina wild caught seafood.”

Thanks to generous sponsorships, summit attendance is free however advance registration is required due to limited seating. To register, email rjohnson@hydecountync.gov or call Rosemary Johnson at 252-926-4474. In addition to Carteret Catch, summit sponsors include Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative, NC Sea Grant, Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, NC Department of Agriculture – Seafood, Pate Dawson/Southern Foods, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, the NC Maritime Museum, The Boathouse at Front Street Village, and the NC Agromedicine Institute. 

NC Catch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to strengthen North Carolina’s seafood economy through promotional and educational activities in partnership with Carteret Catch, Brunswick Catch, Outer Banks Catch and Ocracoke Fresh. NC Catch is committed to helping consumers learn how to buy and prepare fresh, local seafood and to develop an appreciation for a greater variety of wild caught species. The organization also works to bring new marketing ideas, business models, and promotional techniques to North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry.  Learn more at www.nccatch.org.