David Green.

• Author: Green, David
• Position: Marine Industries

"It used to be that wild harvesting was worth $1 billion annually. That's dropped off significantly. Not only have we changed the species we harvest, but there are more restrictions. These days North Carolina imports a significant amount of seafood, both from other states and other countries."

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"What we are trying to do is help companies in the industry add value to the fish and shellfish they harvest. Recently we had a conference where five different businesses displayed their value-added seafood products, such as crab cakes, different types of seafood salad and smoked fish, all things which have increased their revenue, making them producers instead of suppliers of commodities. It's in the area of adding value that you can expect to see a significant return to the North Carolina economy."

"We believe biotechnology will play a huge part in helping producers better utilize 100% of the catch. The head, tail, fins and bones, traditionally thought of as the discards, can have practical applications. For example, fish skins can be used to recover gelatin used in various food and...