The Mission
Commercial fishermen should have a meaningful role in shaping their future.
North Carolina’s commercial fishing communities are navigating changing fisheries, complex management decisions, rising operating costs, environmental pressures, and the loss of working waterfronts.
At the same time, fishermen hold generations of practical knowledge that can improve research, management, and problem-solving. Too often, that knowledge is difficult to bring into the processes where decisions are made.
The NC Commercial Fishing Network was created to help close that gap.
Our mission is to build stronger fishing communities through science, education, and economic opportunity. We connect the industry with scientists to conduct applied research, help stakeholders navigate the management process, provide fishermen opportunities for skill development, and support efforts to preserve and protect working waterfronts.
We envision coastal communities that thrive through sustainable fisheries, where management is informed by sound science and shaped by the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
Our Guiding
Principles
Fishermen first
We prioritize the experiences, needs, and questions of people who make their living on the water.
Respect for local knowledge
Experience gained on the water is a valuable form of expertise and belongs in research and management.
Practical solutions
We focus on work that produces useful information, stronger connections, and real benefits.
Independent collaboration
We work across organizations and perspectives while maintaining an independent voice.
A future worth building
We believe North Carolina can support healthy fisheries, profitable fishing businesses, and thriving coastal communities.