Years ago, the main harbor of Ocracoke Island boasted three fully operational fish houses. At any time of the day, visitors and residents could buy fresh, local fish from professional, commercial fishermen. As the last remaining fish house in Ocracoke was on the verge of closing, a group of dedicated commercial fishermen banded together to form the Ocracoke Working Waterman's Association (OWWA) in order to buy the fish house and begin to grow it into a small business.
The fish house has been on the island for more than 30 years, carrying on an industry traditional to Ocracroke for more than 100 years. For the watermen, it wasn't just about saving jobs; it was about saving the island's long-established heritage. But the watermen could not have done it alone. Grants from the North Carolina Rural Development Center and the Golden Leaf Foundation provided the money that made it possible for the OWWA to save the fish house, and community support through the Ocracoke Foundation is helping to sustain the heritage of the Ocracoke community and continues to build its economy.
The Ocracoke Foundation was created to assist the Ocracoke community with its educational, environmental, social and economic needs. The Foundation helps local projects with all the aspects of running a nonprofit, such as grant writing, resource development, and funding research. With the help of the Ocracoke Foundation, the working watermen in Ocracoke were able to land a North Carolina Rural Development grant for $325,000 - enough money to buy the existing fish house business and lease the building for the next 70 years. Together, the members of the OWWA share the dock, and retail space allowing them to make profits from selling locally. The Ocracoke Working Waterman's Association now consists of a group of about 35 full- and part-time commercial fishermen, who operate the Ocracoke Fish & Seafood Company, a for-profit subsidy.
On June 5 2008, the Foundation was awarded a $407,710 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to implement an oyster restoration project and increase educational outreach efforts through a new Ocracoke Watermen's Exhibit.
Watch the NC Now Feature
An interview with Captain Plyler