canalguyopen OP t1_j2n0lcb wrote on January 2, 2023 at 3:24 PM

Reply to comment by LeetPleeb in Where are the REAL fresh fish markets? by canalguyopen

Im starting to see this. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult when our state is surrounded by water and fishing seems to be such a huge part of the southern ri economy.

Silentjosh37 t1_j2nz5v8 wrote on January 2, 2023 at 7:13 PM

It tends to be because a lot of the seafood people want isn't actually local to RI waters, or is but not at a particular time of year.

Shrimp is a great example, there are no local shrimp it all arrives fresh frozen.

https://www.thelocalcatch.com/species-guide

LeetPleeb t1_j2n6nkp wrote on January 2, 2023 at 4:07 PM

It's def strange. But I think one issue is that the catch has been getting smaller and smaller. So most of it is going to commercial buyers and not much left for retail. And there's not much infrastructure here to facilitate it (like having a fisherman's wharf type sales cooperative location to sell from)

Edit: it's weird your reply is getting downvotes

Syncope7 t1_j2n70v3 wrote on January 2, 2023 at 4:10 PM

Rhode Island’s GDP is $55.4 billion. The RI Fishing Industry draws in $163.4 million, which is less than 1% of $55.4 billion. I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that fishing is a large part of the RI economy.

somegridplayer t1_j2n8wui wrote on January 2, 2023 at 4:23 PM

>RI Fishing Industry draws in $163.4 million

Is it really that small these days? New Bedford on it's own is over $450 mil. But NB's fleet is bigger than all of RI basically.