Saving Seafood

NORTH CAROLINA: Coronavirus having an impact on commercial fishing industry

April 9, 2020 — With many seafood restaurants in eastern Carolina limited in operations, or closed, commercial fishermen are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic right in their pockets.

And while local seafood shops like B&J Seafood in New Bern are still in business, the concern for the future is being felt in the present.

“Right now our biggest concern in the seafood business is continuing to maintain good markets, so that the guys have confidence that they can go fish, and when they get in they can sell their product,” explains Brent Fulcher, the owner of B&J’s.

But maintaining those markets has been a challenge.

Fulcher estimates 50% of their harvests are ultimately sold to restaurant owners.

But many of those owners have been forced to adjust operations, or close all together.

“Some restaurants are able to operate takeout only, but seafood isn’t typically a takeout type ‘venue,’ so a lot of seafood restaurants aren’t able to accommodate that,” Fulcher adds.

One restaurant owner that hasn’t been able to accommodate, is Captain Ratty’s owner Tom Ballance.

Read the full story at WITN

North Carolina’s seafood leaders use data collected pre-pandemic to go to bat for fisheries

March 30, 2020 — The effects of covid-19 in North Carolina are widespread and touching all aspects of the fishing industry, including seafood harvesters, wholesalers, retailers and processors — all currently operating their businesses at a fraction of their normal production or in many cases, closed for business.

“It’s affecting everyone,” said Brent Fulcher, of Beaufort Inlet Seafood and B&J Seafood and Fish Market in New Bern, N.C. “No one knows if this will last two more days, two more months or all year.”

As restaurants and retailers close across the country, markets for fresh seafood are quickly drying up. The severe cutbacks are particularly tough on small operators like Keith Bruno, owner of Endurance Seafood in Oriental, N.C.

“It’s difficult, if not impossible, to sell anything right now. We won’t be putting any more pots overboard. And with Virginia and Maryland opening, I doubt any North Carolina crabs will be sold,” said Bruno. “Right now, I just don’t see any light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.”

Making matters worse is the closure of restaurants and fish markets up and down the coast. New York, Boston and Baltimore are shutting down, following government mandates to help slow the spread of the virus.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

Commercial fishing takes a blow in North Carolina

October 9, 2018 — BEAUFORT, N.C. — With Hurricane Florence’s effects still to be determined, commercial fishermen seem sure to have taken hard hits, short- and long-term.

Commercial fishermen are no strangers to losing time on the water because of bad weather. However, according to commercial fisherman Brent Fulcher, who owns and operates both Beaufort Inlet Seafood and B&J Seafood in New Bern, local fishermen lost more than just a day or two.

“We lost one-and-a-half to two weeks of fishing,” Mr. Fulcher said. “A lot of people haven’t even been able to get back to work yet because they’re occupied with their personal recovery.”

Mr. Fulcher is also the chairman of the N.C. Fisheries Association, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the state’s seafood industry. Association Executive Director and commercial fisherman Glenn Skinner said there’s been a lot of damage to the commercial fishing infrastructure along the state coast, such as to fish houses.

Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times