Vermillion Snappers Go Green

With all the bad news in the world it is refreshing to hear some good, with the strict methods of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council finally paying some handsome dividends.

These past few years, Jack Cox and our other fishermen partners have been struggling to keep the heads above water as their Snapper and Grouper fisheries have been virtually closed. These fish have long been the lifeblood of Carolina fishing communities, and we have been doing our best to develop markets for some lesser known abundant species, such as Amberjack and Triggerfish, inhabiting those waters.

Over the last year a large amount of data has indicated a dramatic population increase for many species of both Snapper and Grouper. Along with our good friend Megan Westmeyer of the South Carolina Aquarium Sustainable Seafood Initiative, we have been working to recognize that although some still require further rebuilding, some species are now very healthy. This past week our partners at the Blue Ocean Institute finally revised their ranking on Vermillion Snappers to a Green. This means that when the season opens next month, our fishermen from Beaufort, NC can offer sustainably managed, sustainably harvested Vermillion Snapper for the first time in recent memory. In the next few months we expect a series of species from this region to have their rankings raised to Green. This is the outcome all have been hoping for; supporting and protecting our invaluable fishing grounds, fishing communities and fishermen.

On Saturday, Michael and I took a trip to Montauk, NY, visiting with our new friends Brian and Asa Gosman at legendary Gosman’s Dock. The tip of Long Island is a beautiful corner of the world, and has been a vibrant fishing village since before our country was founded. Beautiful line-caught Fluke, day-boat Scallops, Monkfish and Porgies will be shipping this week. Due to the recovery of Striped Bass and Swordfish populations in the North Atlantic, we will soon be offering these and other species, where fish landing at Montauk can arrive anywhere next day, and with the new Local Next Day Ground option at a 10% discount from Boston to Washington, DC.

Pink Snapper, Triggerfish, Gag Grouper, Mahi, Amberjack, Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna from North Carolina Halibut, Rockfish, Black Cod, Pacific Cod, King Salmon and Side-Stripe Shrimp from Alaska. Crawfish and IQF Gulf White Shrimp from Louisiana. Walleye from the Red Lake Nation.

Happy Memorial Day.