Hatteras Island, North Carolina – Sustainable seafood guides and mobile apps leave many consumers still in a quandary about which seafood is the “right” choice.

“In fact, most of the current standards do not recognize the ecological value of locally caught seafood,” says Niaz Dorry, executive director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, a non-profit based in Gloucester, Massachusetts that works to improve marine resource management.

Hatteras Island, North Carolina – Sustainable seafood guides and mobile apps leave many consumers still in a quandary about which seafood is the “right” choice.

“In fact, most of the current standards do not recognize the ecological value of locally caught seafood,” says Niaz Dorry, executive director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, a non-profit based in Gloucester, Massachusetts that works to improve marine resource management.

Dorry will talk about ways consumers can make informed seafood buying decisions that are good for local communities, local economies, and the environment at 6 p.m., Monday, October 11, 2010 at the Hatteras Village Community Building, located behind the library.

“When it comes to who should catch our seafood, a connection to coastal communities creates a much stronger sense of conservation and stewardship than a connection to Wall Street,” she says.

Dorry also will discuss local seafood initiatives, including community-supported fisheries programs and “seafood throwdown” cooking competitions, that have become popular in other areas.

“I can’t ignore the information that tells us there is a deep connection between healthy, viable fishing communities, healthy and diverse marine ecosystems, and the quality of the food we get from the sea,” Dorry says.

Hatteras Connection, a community-based development project, is helping organize Dorry’s visit to Hatteras Island and other NC coastal communities.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our island to learn more about successful initiatives in New England that might be adapted for use here,” says Susan West, Hatteras Connection coordinator.

Hatteras Connection is a community-based project dedicated to sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship, and committed to working to ensure a future for new generations of watermen on Hatteras Island.