THE CARTERET COUNTY SHELLFISH FARMING PROGRAM A proposal to create jobs and encourage local small business ownership in the shellfish farming industry Dennis Litalien
PURPOSE Provide background Generate interest Seek feedback Inspire action Determine next steps
WILLIS BROS. SEAFOOD COMPANY WILLISTON, NC 1960 The Clam House owned by the legendary Mr. Elmer Willis Highly successful business operation during the golden age of the Down East commercial fishing industry Provider of clams for the H. J. Heinz Company Point of pride for Down East communities Four North Carolina governors attended clam bakes on the grounds of the Clam House Source : Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center
FORMER WILLIS BROS. SEAFOOD COMPANY, WILLISTON, NC 2016 Decline and closure of the Clam House coincided with the untimely death of Mr. Willis in 1977 During the 1980s and 1990s the commercial fishing industry began a steady decline Today, a proud industry that supported generations of local watermen and their families is struggling
NORTH CAROLINA COMMERCIAL FISHING 2016 Domestic fisheries losing market share and revenue to imported seafood Federal and state regulations limit catches Waterfront development restricts access Economic value of NC s commercial catch declined from $109M in 1995 to $94M in 2014 average value between 2010 2013 was $76M Seafood processors in NC declined by 36% between 2000 and 2011 Graying of the fleet Older fishermen leave faster than young watermen replace them Significant impact to the economic wellbeing of Down East communities Source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
WHY SHELLFISH FARMING IS GOOD FOR CARTERET COUNTY Fastest growing form of mariculture in the US Encourage small independent business ownership opportunities for local fishermen Enable new growth in the local commercial fishing industry Maintain the local maritime heritage Sustainable business model A farm raised oyster grown in Cedar Island Bay
DEFINITION OF MARICULTURE A specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms in their natural habitat the open ocean An environmentally friendly and sustainable form of aquaculture An oyster farm in Cedar Island Bay
SHELLFISH FARMING GROWING THE LOCAL COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY Proven business model with high success rate No re inventing the wheel Shellfish farming/production on the East Coast has doubled in five years Business diversification and job growth for Carteret County Complements local tourism industry Resources to enable success are organic to Carteret County
SHELLFISH FARMING GROWING THE LOCAL COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY Encourage entrepreneurial spirit Offer job opportunities in support services such as hatcheries, fish houses, equipment suppliers, boat builders, mechanics and transportation Provide Carteret County and Eastern NC with local sources of high quality shellfish Create and implement a robust supply chain to transport NC farm grown shellfish products from growers to consumers Mark Hooper a local fisherman from Smyrna checks crab pots used in his soft shell crab operation
SHELLFISH FARMING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL Shellfish mariculture does not cause pollution Filter feeding shellfish improve water quality Provides habitat for juvenile fish and crabs improving species diversity A single oyster filters more than 30 50 galllons of water per day Reduces turbidity and improves light penetration Reduces anoxia (low oxygen) Filters problematic sediments, phytoplankton, nitrogen and associated nutrients Source: East Coast Shellfish Growers Association
SHELLFISH FARMING A CASE STUDY Strong political support in Virginia and Maryland States bordering the Chesapeake Bay heavily invested in industry growth Virginia oyster farming generated more than $55M in revenue vs. about $670K in revenue in North Carolina in 2015 Virginia shellfish farmers control 34% of the market vs. 0.4% for North Carolina Nearly 75% of the oysters consumed in North Carolina are from out of state It does not have to be this way! Demand for quality shellfish remains high nationwide suppliers hard pressed to meet the need
CHALLENGES TO SHELLFISH FARMING Political climate Resistance to change Expansion of bottom and water leases in Core Sound Private leasing of a public trust Buy in for non traditional method of commercial fishing Strong cultural ties to wild caught commercial fishing Develop policy ensuring fair and balanced access
PENDING LEGISLATION IN THE NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY Legislation (HB 302) proposed in 2015 to open Core Sound to shellfish farming NCDMF directed to conduct a feasibility study and report back to the NC General Assembly by April 2016 Current shellfish leasing moratorium must be lifted Requires approval of both houses of the NC General Assembly Governor must sign into law
GROWING THE CARTERET COUNTY SHELLFISH FARMING PROGRAM Leverage local resources Identify and engage key stakeholders Establish program framework Create Incentives (grants/low interest loans) Recruit local watermen Cultivate entrepreneurial spirit Encourage small business ownership Promote concept of the Family Shellfish Farm to coincide with traditional fishing Assist start ups Empower and enable success through training, education, support and mentoring
LOCAL RESOURCES AND POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS NOAA NC Sea Grant NC Division of Marine Fisheries Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) UNCW Carteret Community College NC Coastal Federation NC Shellfish Growers Association Economic Development Council
OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS U. S. Congress NC Governor NC General Assembly County Commissioners Town Commissioners Chamber of Commerce Tourism Development Authority Local lenders Civic groups
SHELLFISH FARMING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Determine lead organization(s) Form exploratory group (stakeholders) Identify best business practices Develop program metrics Create milestones and timeline Initiate pilot project Evaluate outcomes Revise as needed Launch program
NORTH CAROLINA UNDER DOCK OYSTER CULTURE PROGRAM Administered by NC Division of Marine Fisheries Allows people to grow/garden oysters under their coastal docks or piers Allows qualified permit holders to attach up to 90 square feet of oyster cultivation containers to dock or pier Only docks located in waters approved for shellfish harvest are eligible for permits Permits are only issued for docks in waters open for shellfish farming Oysters are for personal consumption not for sale Shellfish.Lease.Permits@ncdenr.gov Source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
QUESTIONS?