Local Ocean Seafoods

Founded by Newport fishing industry professionals with a vision to keep Oregon seafood local, Local Ocean Seafoods has become one of the Oregon Coast’s leading champions of direct sourced, sustainably harvested Oregon seafood.

The business began in 2002 when founder Laura Anderson, who comes from a commercial fishing family, partnered with longtime fisherman Al Pazar to create a seafood market and restaurant focused on showcasing the best of Oregon’s catch while creating stronger local markets for fishing families. When the doors opened in 2005, the idea was “a fish market with a little restaurant attached,” but Local Ocean quickly grew into a beloved waterfront destination known for serving ultra fresh Oregon seafood directly connected to the Newport fleet.

Local Ocean sources directly from more than 30 Oregon fishing vessels and highlights local species including Dungeness crab, pink shrimp, Chinook salmon, albacore tuna, lingcod, blackcod, halibut, rockfish, oysters, and other seasonal catches. Menus often identify the fishing vessel or captain behind the catch, creating a direct connection between diners and Oregon’s fishing communities.

The restaurant is committed to keeping local seafood local. While much of Oregon’s seafood is exported elsewhere, Local Ocean was built to ensure Oregon communities can enjoy the extraordinary seafood harvested off their own coast while supporting the people who catch it.

Local Ocean is also recognized for its innovative “100% Fish” program, which focuses on whole fish utilization and turning seafood byproducts into value added products like bone broths, seafood snacks, and fish skin pet treats. Inspired by Iceland’s seafood innovation model, the program helps reduce waste while creating additional economic opportunities for Oregon’s working waterfront.

Today, the company operates under the employee owned Local Ocean Stewardship Trust, ensuring that the business will continue supporting Oregon fishers, sustainable seafood systems, employee wellbeing, and the long term health of Newport’s coastal economy for generations to come.