Join the North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina Sea Grant, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries on Tuesday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences for an engaging summit and evening reception on the future of oysters in North Carolina.

An evening legislative reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Transfer Co. Food Hall will follow.

The summit will:

  • Illustrate the remarkable progress made in the past two years to advance the N.C. Oyster Blueprint and Shellfish Initiative
  • Demonstrate the broad collaboration and support from a diverse group of stakeholders, including bi-partisan legislative, cabinet, gubernatorial and federal endorsement
  • Build on recent successes in oyster rehabilitation and wild stock enhancement
  • Highlight the importance of water quality protection and restoration to ensure continued progress in these efforts
  • Explore insights into the economic development and job creation opportunities that the shellfish industry can deliver to our coastal communities while protecting and preserving our coastal natural resources.

Participants will be excited by the progress that has been made in the past few years and leave energized to do their part in advancing the future of oysters in North Carolina. Participants will clearly understand the need and strategy of a multipronged approach to rebuild N.C. oyster habitat, stocks and fisheries, smartly grow shellfish farming and improve the state’s coastal water quality and economy.

Who Should Attend?
Anyone interested in the future of oysters in North Carolina, including: elected officials, fishers, educators, oyster eaters, scientists, resource managers, shellfish growers and anyone involved in establishing public policy, research, monitoring, managing, growing and harvesting oysters in North Carolina.

 

For more information about the summit, contact Erin Fleckenstein at erinf@nccoast.org or 252 473-1607.