Over half a century ago, when I was based at Camp Lejeune in NC, the seafood was fresh, local, and great. Chesapeake product was shipped in from less than a days drive away, and the local popcorn shrimp, was as common as as a Big Mac. I returned, now and then, with the reserve, and noticed that local offerings dropped between my visits.

Here in Mass, the local crabs are fairly cheap, at around $4 a pound, and not very memorable. I never see local crab in restaurants. I expect that the offered crab cakes are from imported crab, as I expect that the restaurant would brag if the crab was local. (Even at minimum wage, picking crab is expensive, and with our local labor shortage of reliable unskilled workers, a crab picker, if he/she existed, would want at least $12/$15/hr).   

Our local fishery has taken another hit with our new 5000 sq mile sanctuary. There are excellent, well thought out, pros and cons about the sanctuary, but the bottom line will be less fish. It could be good for the charter boat captains, because recreational fishing will still be allowed. I’ve kept my salt water license up do date, but didn’t use it this year. Maybe to get good, local fish, I will need to catch it myself.