A new initiative along the Oregon coast is helping consumers connect with the commercial fishermen, fishing families, and working waterfronts behind their seafood while keeping more locally harvested products in coastal communities.
The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA), in partnership with the Oregon Ocean Cluster, has launched the Oregon Coast Seafood Trail, featuring more than 20 businesses that prioritize Oregon-landed and Oregon-grown seafood, according to the Lincoln County Leader.
The trail highlights fishing family-run restaurants, seafood markets, dockside retailers, and food carts, offering visitors and residents opportunities to purchase seafood closer to its source and support the businesses that depend on Oregon's commercial fishing industry.
The initiative aims to address a disconnect between Oregon's seafood harvest and what ends up on local plates. A 2022 study commissioned by OCVA found that approximately 90 percent of the seafood supplied to the Oregon coast businesses and institutions studied was classified as non-local catch.
“Oregon’s seafood industry is deeply tied to the identity and economy of the coast,” said OCVA executive director Marcus Hinz. “The Seafood Trail gives visitors an opportunity to experience the stories, people, and places behind Oregon seafood, which also gives folks a practical way to support coastal livelihoods.”
Participating businesses offer a range of Oregon seafood, including Dungeness crab, pink shrimp, albacore tuna, salmon, halibut, groundfish, oysters, and clams. An interactive online map helps consumers locate seafood markets, seasonal offerings, and dockside experiences.
In Lincoln City, Squatchsami Outpost is among the participating businesses, serving Oregon-landed lingcod and halibut fish and chips alongside other seasonal offerings sourced from local fishing families.
The initiative also aligns with the recently released America First Seafood Strategy, a coordinated federal plan announced Oct. 23 that calls for strengthening connections between U.S. seafood producers and buyers through restaurant promotion, direct sales, and regional marketing partnerships.
Beyond promoting local seafood, the trail is intended to encourage tourism during quieter seasons, directing more consumer spending toward small coastal businesses and the fishing communities that sustain them.
Consumers can explore participating businesses and plan their seafood stops through the Oregon Coast Seafood Trail.
