Recently, I was Down East and I stopped in at the Lookout Grocery in Marshallberg for a bag of Morris Family Shellfish Farm clams. No big deal you might be thinking. But that bag of clams is the result of aqua farming, the future of sustainable fishing and the survival of the small independent fisherman. No one embodies that future better than Jimmy Morris. Back in the 1980’s Jimmy founded the Morris Family Shellfish Farms in the small village of Sea Level, located in Carteret County’s Down East communities. Often described as the dean of North Carolina shellfish mariculture, Morris spent the next 10 years making a slow but steady shift from being a 5th generation commercial fisherman to becoming a full-time, first generation shellfish farmer by constructing docks, water tanks, building, and the hundreds of cages used to grow shellfish to maturity. Combining his knowledge of working the waters of Core Sound, Styron Bay and Nelson Bay, with revolutionary technology, Morris looked to aquaculture as an opportunity to provide a balanced and steady annual income by controlling the cycles of planting and harvesting cclams and oysters.
Not content with simply growing his own oysters and clams, Morris followed his scientific streak and a good dose of natural curiosity and started North Carolina’s first and still longest-serving shellfish hatchery, the Mill Point Hatchery. When you realize that a shellfish hatchery involves growing alage for the 8 to 10 million baby clams that needed water and feed along with sundry broodstock conditioning, spawning, hatching, larval culture, setting, and nursery operations, you can begin to appreciate the magnitude of Jimmy’s accomplishments. But I’m not done yet. Through his Mill Point Hatchery, Morris provides millions of oyster and clam seed every year to shellfish farmers up and down the east coast.
On any given day, you will find Jimmy Morris on the phone, fielding questions about how to grow oysters and clams. Beginners to experienced growers stop to chat about challenges and expectations for new gear, weather forecasts, etc. And he is still involved in North Carolina Sea Grant’s research. He provides “spat” larvae to the state, larvae which are “set” on shell and placed in designated coastal oyster waters to restore reefs. Restored reefs improve ecosystems, reduce erosion, and boost the wild growth of oysters. And, when not helping to rebuild ecosystems, Jimmy is busy training NC watermen to make the transition from fishing to farming.
Today, three generations of the Morris family work in the aquaculture business. In busy times, they employ up to 10 workers from rural Down East communities. Their shellfish heads to restaurants throughout the region and state, including Sea Level NC, a farm to table seafood restaurant in Charlotte. Down East customers, like myself, also know to check the coolers at Lookout Grocery for clams and oysters. Jimmy Morris has no plans to retire. "This body is made to move," he says and that kind of enthusiasm and passion bodes well for the prospects of fresh clams and oysters for vacationers and residents of Carteret County. Here’s a cocktail that marries well with clams. Today’s libation is a take on the Smirnoff Smiler, a cocktail Columnist Walter Winchell popularized back in the early 1950s. Start by coating the rim of a tall glass with celery salt, fill with ice and set aside. Add 2 ounces of vodka (I like Chopin), 4 ounces of Clamato juice, 2 dashes of both Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco and horseradish to taste in a small pitcher or shaker. Add ice and stir or shake to combine. Pour the concoction into the waiting tall glass, garnish with a celery stalk and toast Jimmy Morris.
To learn more about how the Crystal Coast and Carteret County are improving the prospects for fresh seafood well into the future, go to my website, www.EmeraldIsleHomesforSaleNC.com and sign up for my blog. Ready to buy or sell? Call me at 919-308-2292. Explore the video tab for my weekly uploads to my YouTube channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and receive free donuts at my Flip Flops Donut shop. Text your email address to 919-308-2292 and subscribe to my newsletter. My book, "Live Where You Vacation" is available on Amazon.com.
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