It’s been a winter for local seafood! With countless projects in the works to help keep more of our seafood local, we’re excited to share what we’ve been up to this winter.
PS: Why are we working to keep seafood local? Find out more here.
Winter Waters Blue Foods Forum
First off Winter Waters has been hosting events around the state aimed at engaging the community over fresh, locally sourced food that is all part of a sustainable coastal food web!
Last week we attended the Blue Foods Forum and a Seafaring Speakeasy in Portland, along with a wide array of partners invested and interested in this work. A collaborative session resulted in a lot of great conversations around innovations in the seafood industry like fish products being used for beauty and other household products, as well as food hubs and distribution networks to strengthen the ecosystem of local, sustainable food.
Check out the recap video here:
Innovation in the Seafood Industry
Speaking of innovation, Oregon Coast Visitors Association Executive Director Marcus Hinz presented with Dr. Leeper of the Iceland Ocean Cluster Initiative at Fisher Poets in Astoria. Attendance in the room was overcapacity, which is a great indicator of the continuing high interest in the topic of seafood innovation.
We’re constantly encouraged by the investment and innovation of our partners in this space, and look forward to the future of sustainable seafood in our state. As Oregon Coast Visitors Association Executive Director Marcus Hinz said, “As an organization, we are proud to be taking on this work because – as a destination management organization – our beaches and our seafood represent our core value proposition for visitors. When we create the best experience for our visitors, we also are making our own communities even better places for coastal residents to live. Everyone wins.”
Upcoming Events
Want to join another seafood event this winter? There’s still time! Check out the rest of the lineup for Winter Waters, including the upcoming Winter Waters Weekend in Port Orford!