Ahab's Journal

Outer Banks Catch Business Plan Review Subcommittee Meets January 4

The Outer Banks Catch Business Plan Review Subcommittee will meet January 4, Monday, 2 pm, room 168, Dare Administration Building, Manteo.

Dare County to brand local seafood

Dare County is preparing to launch a branding program, "Outer Banks Catch," to promote locally caught seafood and inform consumers about what kinds of fresh fish are available when.

"This is really going to help the fishermen educate the general public, which is ultimately going to help the commercial fisherman," said Jamie Reibel, a member of the county's working watermen committee. "It's worthy." 

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OB Catch Membership Subcommittee Meets December 30

The Outer Banks Catch Membership/Sponsorship Subcommittee will meet Wednesday, Decmber 30, 1 pm, room 168, Dare County Administration Building, Manteo.

Outer Banks Catch Executive Committee Appointments

At the Outer Banks Catch Executive Committee meeting last night, the group made the following appointments:

Committee for Branding Dare County Seafood Meets Thursday

The Committee for Branding Dare County Seafood meets Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m., room 168, Dare Administration Building.

Dare County Commission for Working Watermen Meets Tuesday

Dare County Commission for Working Watermen meets Tuesday, October 27, 7 p.m., room 168, Dare Administration Building.

Local seafood branding meeting Thursday, October 22

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will hold a Dare County seafood branding meeting at 7 p.m., October 22, Thursday, at the Dare County Administrative Building in Manteo.  Restaurant owners, chefs, fishermen, seafood dealers, business owners, and interested members of the public are encouraged to attend.

COMMITTEE FOR BRANDING DARE COUNTY SEAFOOD MEETS THURSDAY

The Committee for Branding Dare County Seafood meets Thursday, October 15, 7:00 p.m., at the Dare County Administrative Building, room 238.

Dare County Local Seafood Branding Meeting is October 15

The next meeting of the Outer Banks Catch Branding Committee is set for Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in Room 238 on the second floor of Dare’s Administration Building in Manteo. 

Fishermen volunteer help

Dare County commercial fishermen hope the state will accept their offer to work with fisheries biologists to improve what is known about southern flounder.

The offer is part of a resolution unanimously passed by the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen last week.

The resolution asks the state Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) to postpone a review of southern flounder fishing regulations until September 2010 so that data from this year can be used in determining the health of the flounder population.

Continue reading Fishermen volunteer help »

Dare County Working Watermen Commission Meets Tuesday

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen meets Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 p.m., at the Dare County Adminstrative Building, room 238, in Manteo.

Dare Working Watermen Commission meets Tuesday

Dare County Commission for Working Watermen meets Tuesday, August 25, 7 pm, at the Dare County Administrative Building, room 168.

Dare County Working Watermen Commission Meets Tuesday

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen meets Tuesday, July 28, 6 pm, in room 168 of the Dare County Adminstrative Building.

Agenda items include seafood branding, current issues, and upcoming ASMFC meeting.

Reminder: Seafood Branding Meeting in Buxton Tuesday

Efforts are underway to create a brand identity for seafood harvested in Dare County, so that consumers chose Dare County seafood the way they chose Maine Lobster or Alaska salmon.  This project is in step with growing consumer demand for locally harvested, sustainably harvested food, and is being developed through the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen. 

A local seafood promotion working group will meet June 2, Tuesday, 1 pm, at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.  The group invites restaurant owners, chefs, seafood retailers, fish dealers, fishermen, local food enthusiasts, marketing gurus, consumers, and other interested parties to attend the meeting and participate in this community-based project.

Local Seafood Branding Meeting June 2 in Buxton

Efforts are underway to create a brand identity for seafood harvested in Dare County, so that consumers chose Dare County seafood the way they chose Maine Lobster or Alaska salmon.  This project is in step with growing consumer demand for locally harvested, sustainably harvested food, and is being developed through the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen. 

A local seafood promotion working group will meet June 2, Tuesday, 1 pm, at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.  The group invites restaurant owners, chefs, seafood retailers, fish dealers, fishermen, local food enthusiasts, marketing gurus, consumers, and other interested parties to attend the meeting and participate in this community-based project.

Local Seafood Promotion Meeting Set for June 2 in Buxton

The Dare County Local Seafood Marketing working group will meet June 2, Tuesday, 1 pm, at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.  The group is in the first phase of developing a local seafood promotion campaign, and invites restaurant owners, chefs, seafood retailers, fish dealers, fishermen, local food enthusiasts, marketing gurus, and others to join this effort.  More information is available from Jamie Reibel at 252-473-2901.

Committee for Branding Dare County Seafood Meets Wednesday, May 13

Dare County fishermen excel at catching fish and shellfish, but are going to need the help of other community members in developing an effective seafood marketing campaign.  If you want to help create a local seafood promotional program in the county, please attend the meeting Wednesday, May 13, 7 pm, at the Chicamacomico Banks Fire Station in Rodanthe.

For more information, contact Jamie Reibel, c/o Katie Smith, Clerk to the Commissioners, 252-475-5700, katies@darenc.com. 

Watermen to oppose striped-bass quotas

BY SUSAN WEST, OUTER BANKS SENTINEL | The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen voted Thursday to oppose the use of individual fishing quotas in the commercial striped bass fishery.

Under an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, only fishermen who meet certain qualifications, such as landing at least a minimum amount of striped bass in specific years, would be eligible to continue in the fishery.

Reminder: IFQ Meeting in Hatteras Thursday Evening

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will meet 7 pm, Thursday, April 16 at the Hatteras Village Civic Center.  The agenda includes a discussion on limited entry/ITQs/IFQs/catch shares. 

Limited Access Meeting in Hatteras April 16

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will meet 7 pm, Thursday, April 16 at the Hatteras Village Civic Center.  The agenda includes a discussion on limited entry/ITQs/IFQs/catch shares.

Darelicious Seafood

If you don't believe the Dare Commission for Working Watermen needs help creating a brand name for Dare County seafood, read this suggestion from Jamie Reibel, commission vice-chairman.  For the record, Jamie's wife thinks Darelicious sounds like the name of a performer at a strip joint.

"dare-li-cious~  adj. [ME <AN<LLat. Pleasing  < Lat. Delicia,]: 1. Fresh Dare County seafood product highly enjoyable to taste.  2. DELIGHTFUL.  Dareliciously adv. – dareliciousness n.;:,  syns. SOFT CRABS,  SHRIMP, TROUT, DRUM, SCALLOPS, GROUPER, SWORDFISH, BLOW TOADS, MACKEREL, MAHI, WAHOO, FLOUNDER, BLUE CRABS, OYSTERS, TUNA, BLUE FISH, ect., YUMMY adj.  core meaning: highly healthy and pleasing to the taste <a darelicious meal>"

Let's Promote Dare County Seafood

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen needs volunteers to help launch a project promoting Dare County seafood.

The project will be patterned after the successful Carteret Catch: Select North Carolina Seafood from the Fishermen of Carteret County (www.carteretcatch.org), but tailored to fit Dare County.

Carteret Catch has flourished due to a strong network of support in that county.  Community members have created a market identity and promotional activities for fish and shellfish landed by Carteret County fishermen. 

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen believes a Dare County program similar to Carteret Catch would benefit from a broad range of knowledge and experience in fields such as business and advertising, finance, restaurant management, cooking, health, education, marine biology, resource management, graphic arts, as well as commercial fishing, and seafood wholesaling and retailing.

Individuals interested in the project should call Jamie Reibel, vice-chairman of the Commission for Working Watermen, at 252-473-2901.

Striped Bass Meeting in Manteo Tonight

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will again take up discussion of a Limited Access Privilege Program for the striped bass fishery tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 16), 7 pm.  The meeting will be held in room 238, Dare County Administration Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo. 

Dare County Commission for Working Watermen

The Dare County Commission for Working Waterman is a local committee formed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners to assist local fishermen in dealing with problems resulting from regulation.  The following are members of the committee:

Striped Bass Limited Access Meeting in Manteo Tuesday

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries officials will discuss a plan for a Limited Access Privilege Program in the state striped bass commercial fishery on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7 pm, at a meeting of the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen. Fishermen are encouraged to attend.

Limited Access Privilege Programs, also called Individual Fishing Quotas, catch-shares, or rationalization plans, have never been used in state fisheries, but the NC Marine Fisheries Commission is seeking legislative authority to create a LAPP in the striped bass fishery. (Click on the "Limited Access" category on this website for news stories about LAPPs.)

The meeting will be held at the Commissioners Conference Room 185, Dare County Adminstrative Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo.

Commission for Working Watermen Meets Tuesday

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will meet September 30, 7 pm, at the Commissioners Meeting Room (204 Ananias Dare Street, Manteo).

The October 7 meeting has been cancelled.

Working Watermen Commission Meets October 7

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will meet October 7, 7 pm, at the Commissioners Meeting Room (204 Ananias Dare Street, Manteo).

Working Watermen Commission Meets Tuesday

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen will meet 7 pm, Tuesday, September 16, at the Dare County Administrative Annex (204 Ananias Dare Street, Manteo). 

Let Them Fish - A Documentary about Commercial Fishermen

More than one viewer has confessed that Let Them Fish brought tears to their eyes.

The documentary, directed by Chris Ellison, a sophomore at New York University, who served as a summer intern with the Dare County Department of Public Relations, tells the story of what is happening not only to Dare County fishermen but to fishermen everywhere in the United States. 

Kudos to Ellison and to the Dare County Board of Commissioners and the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen for producing this video.

Watch "Let Them Fish"      

Fish woes: State looking at ASMFC for quota

BY SUSAN WEST, OUTER BANKS SENTINEL | Elected representatives and the chief state fisheries official agreed Thursday that the state must aggressively pursue changes in the way the spiny dogfish fishery is managed.

"The one thing that is critical is that North Carolina fishermen fish this winter, either at 1.3 million pounds or more," said Senator Marc Basnight at a meeting with Louis Daniel, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) director.

Documentary on Local Commercial Fishermen to Air on Government Access Channel

The locally produced documentary, Let Them Fish, will be broadcast on Cable Channel 20 MAGIC (Municipal and County Government Information Channel) beginning Sunday, August 31.

Let Them Fish explores the problems local, commercial fishermen face every day trying to make a living while dealing with the state and federal regulations that restrict their catches.

County watermen committee focused on dogfish

BY SUSAN WEST, OUTER BANKS SENTINEL | Spiny dogfish moved to the top spot on the list of issues the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen plans to address.

"Resolving this issue can bring some immediate relief to the commercial fishing industry in the county," said Dewey Hemilright, Commission for Working Watermen (CWW) member, when the group met July 8 to prioritize a list of potential action items.

Working Watermen Commission Meets July 15

The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen plans to meet Tuesday, July 15, 7 pm, at the Dare County Administrative Annex (204 Ananias Dare Street, Manteo).  The group plans to draft a resolution requesting a 1.3 million pound spiny dogfish quota for North Carolina.

Working watermen lay out tasks ahead

BY SUSAN WEST, OUTER BANKS SENTINEL | The Dare County Commission for Working Watermen laid out an ambitious task-sheet when the group met June 17.

Each waterman on the commission contributed a "wish list" of ways to protect and develop the fishing industry in Dare County.

New county board to address fishing issues

BY SUSAN WEST, OUTER BANKS SENTINEL | Dare County Commissioner Mike Johnson said the newly-formed Dare County Commission for Working Watermen could serve as a pathway for building similar efforts in other North Carolina counties.

"Once we get going and can speak to the problems, we will be able to go to other counties and build a strong coastal coalition quickly," said Johnson, chairman of the new commission.