Dare County's Commercial Fishing Industry

For centuries, Dare County’s commercial fishing industry has been one of the largest and most important in the entire country - with generations of local watermen passing along the unique heritage of their profession to their children and their grandchildren. Commercial fishing is a way of life - and it’s also an essential economic driver for our area.
However, increased regulations have led to a massive decline in the number of commercial fishermen that are currently working in our waterways because it has become extremely difficult for them to make a living in this ever-changing industry.
Without Dare County’s commercial fishermen, residents and visitors alike will no longer have access to the wide array of fresh, local seafood for which the Outer Banks is famous.
“Dare County’s Commercial Fishing Industry: Safeguarding the Community’s Longstanding Heritage by Supporting the Livelihoods of Local Fishermen” features numerous firsthand accounts from these local fishermen - as well as several restaurateurs and seafood market owners who have been impacted by these regulations.
It’s time for all of us to come together to support our local fishermen so Dare County’s commercial fishing industry-and the many small businesses that rely upon having access to fresh, local seafood-can survive and continue to thrive for generations to come.