Inventory of Fish Houses in North Carolina

Transcription

1 Inventory of Fish Houses in North Carolina Barbara Garrity-Blake, Social Scientist Barry Nash, NC Sea Grant Project Funded by a NC Sea Grant Mini- Grant Special Thanks to: Holden Seafood William Small, NC Dept. of Agriculture Brian Cheuvront, Scott Crosson, and Scott Chappell, NCDMF Evans Seafood, Willy Phillips, and Julian M. Brown

2 Why an Inventory? General Assembly concerned about loss of public access, loss of working waterfront, loss of diversity of use on coast. American Fish Co., Southport Piers: past decade reduced from 32 to 21 Public marinas/community harbors declining or at risk need inventory! Campgrounds and motels (NC lost 1,000 + rooms since 2000, replaced by rental homes/residential developments End-of-road access points, boat ramps, bridge-side put-ins, etc. need inventory! Fish houses, landings, marine railways, boat building facilities working waterfront water/fisheries-dependent uses at risk At stake: public access and use, character and heritage of coastal communities, serious economic, social, cultural implications We need to know what s out there and plan strategy for maintaining diversity of use, public access, and viable seafood industry.

3 What is a Fish House? Site of wholesale buying/ selling of finfish and shellfish (we did not survey retail shops, roadside vendors, individuals w/ dealers license) Usually accessible by boats on one side, trucks on the other quintessential working waterfront Part of a larger system of seafood distribution networks, fishing fleets, railways, suppliers Where the product is moved from the water to the markets Ocracoke Seafood Company

4 How Did We Do It? Compiled list of fish houses/ businesses (NC Dept. of Agriculture directory, asked fishing industry reps, advisors to NCMFC) Site visits and Phone interviews Administered Survey Questions, Took Photos Cape Point Fisheries, Beaufort

5 What Do We Want to Know? Full Circle Crab Co, Columbia WHO is actively engaged in the processing and wholesale distribution of domestic seafood? WHERE are they located? WHY are they struggling (what issues)? HOW are they adapting to today s challenges? WHAT are their plans for the future?

6 Who is the Fishing Industry? Culturally distinct group w/ deep history - families trace genealogy back 300 years. Act of fishing a source of identity, not job Family endeavor husband, wife, children, boat is a family business Generational continuity breaking? Clayton Fulcher Seafood Co, Atlantic

7 Fishing Industry: an Interdependent Social & Economic Network Long Haul Crew, Atlantic Fishermen Depend on Fish Houses for dockage, ice, loans, market connections Fish House Depends on Fishermen for Product All depend on Trucking Companies All depend on supporting infrastructure (marine railways, mechanics, gear manufactures, etc.)

8 Fishing Businesses are Embedded in Community Support associated businesses (insurance co s, grocery stores, banks, restaurants, etc.) Contribute to Tax-base Sponsor festivals, nonprofits, scouts, churches, little league, fire depts., festivals etc. Part of maritime history, community heritage Bowman s Seafood, Sneads Ferry

9 Where are NC s Fish Houses? Cape Hatteras Cape Lookout Cape Fear 136 sites listed

10 Recent Fish House Closures Cape Hatteras Cape Lookout 41 closed/closing Cape Fear

11 Northeast Region Tunis Chowan River Elizabeth City Hertford Edenton Currituck Albemarle Sound 26 sites, 3 closed/closing Colington Columbia Wanchese Stumpy Point

12 Central Region Washington Pamlico Beach Swan Quarter Englehard Lowland Vandemere Pamlico Sound Bayboro New Bern Oriental Cedar Island Swansboro Morehead/Beaufort Harkers Island Atlantic 82 sites, 32 closed/closing

13 Southeast Region Swansboro Salter Path Sneads Ferry Hampstead Wrightsville Beach 28 sites, 6 closed/closing Shallotte Varnumtown Southport Carolina Beach

14 How Many NC Fish Houses? Northeast Open 23 Closed/Contract 3 Central Open 50 Closed/Contract 32 Southeast Open 22 Closed/Contract 6 Total Count: 136 # closed past 5 yrs: 41 from 136 to 95 = - 30 % Millis and Sons, Sneads Ferry

15 Why the Struggle? Imports/Competition w/ Gulf Coast High Fuel Prices/ Low Market Prices Scarcity of some resources in some areas Stringent Regulations, tight quotas Scarcity of labor ( recruitment of young fishermen ) Ocracoke Beach Seiners Development Pressures Beacon 1 Seafood, Varnumtown

16 Development Pressures Hatteras Island Property values increasing, product values depressed Rising property tax, rising operating costs, declining profit margins Off-water relocation of fish house (n=7) decreases access for fishermen (dock space, supplies, transportation of fish)

17 Associated Sites at Risk Landings Community Harbors Marine Railways Boat Building Facilities Commercial fuel docks Deep-water transit dockage Landing in Arapahoe Straits Railway, Gloucester

18 Loss of Access Passed to Consumer Decline of harvesters and fish houses means less local product Consumer loses access to fresh NC seafood Yeoman s Seafood, Harkers Island

19 Consumer Demand is Growing Williams Seafood, Arapahoe Carteret Catch program surveyed 175 people 84% expected seafood purchased at the coast to be locally caught. 90% expected seafood in local restaurants to be locally harvested. 92% said they were inclined to purchase local seafood if given a choice. Nationally, seafood consumption on rise, local foods movement growing

20 Positive findings from Survey Despite problems, most surveyed want to stay in business Most are willing to participate in finding solutions Many say that the seafood industry of the future will look very different from the past, and will require new ways of doing business The potential is there to improve the seafood industry. Beacon 1 Seafood, Varnumtown

21 Other States: Maine Red Barn Fish Co. Formed Working Waterfront Coalition (public, private sector parternship) Voters supported amending state constitution to tax working waterfront as current use value (not deferred) Maine Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program - $2 mill/year to help purchase land, wharfs, piers for commercial fishing use Marketing Lobster Tales connecting product with communities Sen. Sue Collins Working Waterfront Preservation Act awaiting co-signers (matching Federal grant program available to coastal states) - legislative report,etc.

22 Contribution of WW to the Maine Economy (C. Colgan, U. of Southern Maine) WW contributes more to state economy than residential construction 1-time contribution of house construction vs. recurring contribution of WW Tax-base contributions of residential developments significant, but do not alter the relatively larger contribution of WW-related activities. State and local polices should not be indifferent to the fate of working waterfronts. Protecting existing facilities/sites will save the public from the possibility of having to invest in additional facilities to replace those lost. South River Seafood Co.

23 Connecticut The town of Stonington: Assisted fishermen in securing wharf in exchange for heritage tourism designation Straits Railway, Gloucester

24 Florida FL Senate Report 2004 water enhanced uses (condos) replacing water dependent uses Service jobs supporting residential development less valuable than waterfront jobs (Maine study) Called for inventory of existing commercial and recreational working waterfront ID state-level strategies to preserve/increase access Waterfronts FL Partnerships program designation/financial assistance for communities to enhance viable traditional waterfront economies, resource protection, and public access marina permit expedited if 10% saved for public use tax deferral incentives FL Waterway and Waterfront Improvement Act HB : Required regulatory incentives (above) that encourage preservation of working waterfront/ public access, defines WW as real property that provides access for water-dependent commercial activities or provides access for the public to navigable waters of the state, WWs are those that require direct access to water WW open to the public and offer public access Docks, wharfs, lifts, marinas, ramps, repair facilities, commercial fishing facilities and supporting structures (excludes seaports) More info:

25 North Carolina James Styron Fish Co, Davis Carteret Catch (Marketing) Non-profit fish house in Ocracoke Expansion of retail, preprepared foods for retail markets Developing brand ID for individual FH Studies: UNC-G, communitysupported fisheries program, linking fishermen to customers, linking product to community

26 Needs/Ideas Governments at all levels need to plan in recognition of the vital economic role played by NC s working waterfronts State/counties inventory of public access points Identify critical working waterfront sites Grants/low-interest loans for infrastructure maintenance and development Study voluntary incentives to protect and encourage WW/access Expand Outreach Program to state s commercial fishing industry (needs/opportunities) Round-table discussions of fishing industry want to be part of solution, most knowledgeable about industry Increase Investment in Promoting NC seafood industry (heritage tourism, community-supported fisheries programs, branding strategies, etc.)