. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. Marketing shark Rough waters ahead for fishery Lloyd Davidson's 41-foot Alligator is rigged for shark fishing. But lately, the Morehead City fisherman and his boat spend more time at the dock than out on the water. The prices his catch brings—when he can find a buyer—aren't enough to pay the costs of fishing. It's a familiar story for Davidson. About a year ago he made a deal with the owners of a local fish house. He would rig his boat for shark fishing, and the fish house would market his catch. They had
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. Marketing shark Rough waters ahead for fishery Lloyd Davidson's 41-foot Alligator is rigged for shark fishing. But lately, the Morehead City fisherman and his boat spend more time at the dock than out on the water. The prices his catch brings—when he can find a buyer—aren't enough to pay the costs of fishing. It's a familiar story for Davidson. About a year ago he made a deal with the owners of a local fish house. He would rig his boat for shark fishing, and the fish house would market his catch. They had an idea that there was a demand for shark in the North, and they were willing to take a risk to get a jump on that market. But now, with their venture in its second year, the experimenters say they may have jumped too soon. They're not ready to pull out, mind you. They just want to warn others that there's rough water ahead before a strong shark fishery is established. "I think the number one thing to say about shark fishing' is not to en- courage people to get into it yet. It's only marginally feasible now," says Davidson. The problem is, "You've almost got to talk people into buying ; Doug Brady, an owner of Ottis' Fish Market in Morehead City, markets Davidson's catch—a task he likens to begging. Brady gives an example: if he had 5,000 pounds of shark meat today, he estimates it would take him 24 hours on the telephone to sell it. Brady managed to convince some buyers in the North and West to purchase Davidson's shark. But he adds that his target market defies regional borders — he'll sell to "whoever will buy ; "There is some demand," Brady says. "But if you catch a lot, that de- mand will cease. You can fill up the de- mand ; Concentrating on domestic markets, Brady sells fresh shark, headed and gutted, in the carcass form. His buyers chunk and steak the meat for retailing. Traditionally, there has bee
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
