COASTAL 



TIDINGS 



Fisheries Association Celebrates 50 Years 



Members of the North Carolina 

 Fisheries Association gather on the 

 Capitol steps during a 1 955 visit to D. C. 



Fifty years ago, five men formed the 

 North Carolina Fisheries Association. Now, 

 1 ,000 members work on behalf of commer- 

 cial fishing families, crabbers, dealers, 

 packers and related businesses. 



Formed with the goal to ensure that 

 every American table has fresh seafood — 

 and that the children of North Carolina will 

 have the opportunity to grow up and fish for 

 a living — the NCFA continues to be an 

 advocate for the commercial fishing industry. 



There are different levels of member- 

 ship forming this advocacy group, from the 

 primary members to the locally based 

 auxiliary organizations comprised of spouses 

 and other members of commercial fishing 

 families. 



The NCFA is involved in a wide variety 



of public awareness projects, seeking to 

 present an accurate portrait of the commercial 

 fishing industry. These efforts include the 

 publication Tradewinds. 



Reflecting on the group's history, 

 president Jerry Schill says, "for a group like 

 ours, it is usually what 'didn't happen' rather 

 than a particular issue we push." What didn't 

 happen is peat mining in Hyde county, net 

 and trawling bans, and many other issues that 

 affect commercial fishing in North Carolina, 

 he adds. 



What is happening is the 50th anniver- 

 sary celebration, which culminates at the 17th 

 Annual Fish Baron's Ball and Silent Auction 

 on Nov. 9 in New Bern. For more informa- 

 tion call the NCFA at 252/633-2288, or go 

 online to www. ncfish. org. — J T. 



Core Sound 



Museum 

 Receives Loan 



With support from the U.S. 

 Department of Agricultural Rural 

 Development program, the Core Sound 

 Museum is completing construction of an 

 education hall/community center. 



The museum on Harkers Island 

 received a $450,000 low-interest loan 

 from the agricultural program. 



'This loan — which is a temporary 

 solution — will allow us to move into 

 the building early next year and carry 

 out the museum's mission as an 

 educational and economic resource for 

 our community," says Karen 

 Amspacher, museum director. 



Since being approved for the loan, 

 the museum has secured more than 

 $140,000 in new gifts and pledges. 



When open, the museum will 

 highlight decoy making and other 

 traditions in eastern North Carolina. 



To find out more about the 

 museum, visit the Web: 

 www.coresound.com/museum.htm. — A.G. 



New Shipwreck Museum Opening 



Ov 



'ver the years, the treacherous 

 waters off Cape Hatteras have entombed 

 thousands of vessels and countless mariners. 



The new Graveyard of the Atlantic 

 Museum commemorates the Outer Banks' 

 rich maritime history. 



A small portion of the museum on 

 Hatteras Island will open this fall, including a 

 small exhibition space, museum store and 

 community room. 



The 1 9,000-square-foot museum, 

 which is located at the end of Hatteras 

 Island near the ferry dock, is a stunning 

 structure designed in the shape of a ship. 



In 2003, the museum will feature a 

 major exhibit on Gen. Billy Mitchell, in 

 conjunction with the First Flight Celebration. 



To find out more about the museum, 

 visit the Web: www.graveyardofiheatlantic.com. 



-A.G. 



4 HOLIDAY 2002 



