Under the Sea

‘Tis the sea-son! As the weather warms and many NCers hit the coast, the call for seafood surges. From local joints that are quite the pearl (*wink, wink*) to annual foodie fests to aquatic animals, we test your local under-the-sea smarts. … Just keep swimming!

O-fish-ally delish: Locals Seafood has bloomed into a thriving biz with a newly debuted full-service fish market in East Raleigh—and a resto on the horizon—since its inception circa 2010. What single item did the seafood spot start off selling? 
a.  Scallops
b.  Shrimp
c.  Crabcakes
d.  Oysters

Aw, shucks! Smoky Hollow District’s 42nd St. Oyster Bar has situated itself as a founding member of Raleigh’s seafood scene since its restaurant debut in 1987. Before becoming an eatery, what did the spot originate as in 1931? 
a.  Gas station 
b.  Bank
c.  Grocery store
d.  Fast-food chain

Showcasing a scad of statewide fishing benefits, what economic impact does the sea-sational Morehead City-based NC Seafood Festival bring to the area? 
a.  ~$500,000
b.  ~$2 million
c.  ~$7 million
d.  ~$13 million

Life is the bubbles when paying a visit to the “Seafood Capital of the World” unloading hordes of fresh catches on the daily from the docks of which Brunswick County town?
a.  Shallotte
b.  Calabash
c.  Leland
d.  Southport

Claws up! Our state loves to stay crabby, as soft-shell crabs remain an uberpopular (and profitable!) aspect of the coastal economy. Which crab species is the most commercially common in NC?
a.  Snow crab 
b.  Spider crab
c.  Ghost crab
d.  Blue crab

Holy carp. What local seafood spot also established a foundation benefiting research for hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
a. Cape Fear Seafood Company
b.  St. Roch
c.  Oak City Fish and Chips
d.  42nd St. Oyster Bar

Now patrolling. … What’s the official name of the agency that ensures the thousands of commercial and recreational fishers in North Carolina follow the rules?
a.  Coastal Police
b.  Port Police
c.  Marine Patrol
d.  Nautical Patrol

Oysters are quite the pearl for North Carolina, as the local coastlines host a smattering of diverse mollusk habitats. Which of the following is true?
a.  Oysters have recyclable shells
b.  Oysters are filter feeders
c.  Oysters have gills
d.  All of the above

Do be shellfish! Shrimp stack up as the No. 2 most important catch for the Tar Heel State’s economy. What is the average lifespan of a shrimp? 
a.  ~12 months
b.  ~18 months
c.  ~20 months
d.  ~24 months