
Our tagline Southern Catch represents a commitment to strong fishing communities; fresh, local, sustainable seafood; and connecting seafood lovers and businesses with local fishermen.
MISSION: We work to protect the Southeast’s fishing heritage by advocating for sustainable year-round fishing rules, collecting better fishery science, and connecting consumers and businesses with fishermen, to improve the abundance and accessibility of local seafood.
VISION: We envision strong Southeast fishing communities that provide sustainably-caught local seafood year-round and pass the heritage on to future generations.
The South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association has eight board members.
President - Matt Ruby, Charleston, SC
Vice President - Phil Conklin, Murrell's Inlet, SC
Treasurer - Chris Conklin, Murrell's Inlet, SC
Secretary - Dave Thomas, St. Matthew's, SC
Larry Jones, Cayce, SC
Jack Cox, Morehead City, NC
To achieve our goals of sustainable fishery management, year-round seafood availability and uniting Southeast fishermen, our current key activities include:
“Since catch shares programs have been introduced in our area I’ve seen no downside. I’ve watched the value of the fish we’re bringing in increase by 20-25%. I see fishermen burning less fuel, having more days off, and I see an overall improvement in the quality of life for us all.”