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MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. – Local seafood education organizations are learning new ways to connect with consumers across the state. 

The organizations, also known as catch groups, met in Morehead City on Wednesday for the Local Catch Seafood Summit.

The summit attendees all have one goal in common, to convince North Carolina seafood consumers to buy local.

Mike Johnson, of Outer Banks Catch, said the public needs to know where to purchase fresh seafood. 

"We hope as a group today, to create a statement, create a demand  and show people where they can get them," said Johnson.
 
In a digitally-driven world, marketing specialists said consumers turn to the internet when researching products.

Barry Nash, a N.C. Sea Grant technology and marketing specialist, said a large portion of their target audience looks for options online.
 
"We want to provide them information so that when they come to the coast, they're going to be looking for the research and the restaurants that are serving local," said Nash

Speakers said the average person receives 3,000 messages a day so when using social media, it's important to create a brand image. 

"What is special about local seafood? What are the value points," said Nash, “specifically, seasonality, quality, freshness, coming right off the boat."
 
Catch groups are aiming to keep North Carolina seafood within the state.  

"Instead of putting it on the dock and sending it to New York or all over the world, we hope to feed it to North Carolinians," said Johnson, "and we want to create a demand for that."

Buying local seafood keeps the commercial fishing community afloat but it also preserves the culture along the coast.  

"There's a rich heritage and interesting traditions that you're not going to find anywhere else in the state," said Nash.

To locate fish caught locally, visit the Outer Banks Catch website.