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News  Supporting Local Seafood Markets: Innovative Outreach, Events, and Collaborations

1/01/2026
  • Division of Marine Fisheries
A group of people stand in front of a Division of Marine Fisheries tent serving cooked Jonah crab in Boston.

The Division of Marine Fisheries’ Seafood Marketing Program aims to increase consumer demand and preference for local seafood products and support local fisheries through education and awareness. Part of the program’s role is to attend local seafood, food, and outreach shows and conferences to share resources on local seafood, learn from industry members, and grow DMF’s network of fishers, seafood dealers, restaurants, educators, and more!  

Seafood Promotional Events 

Boston Local Food Festival Seafood Sampling  

Bright orange, cooked crab sits on a plate on a rock seat next to a wooden hammer.
Cooked Jonah crab served at the Boston Local Food Festival, ready for cracking!

For the first time, the Seafood Marketing Program hosted a table at the Boston Local Food Festival in September, where DMF distributed over 500 pounds of cooked and cooled, whole Jonah crabs. The crabs were purchased from Cape Ann Lobstermen in Gloucester. We hope to have the opportunity to share this delicious, sustainable local seafood at future events! 

New England Regional Marketing Collaboration Meeting 

In October, Massachusetts’ and Rhode Island’s Seafood Marketing Programs hosted a collaborative meeting with other coastal New England states’ programs at the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife field headquarters in Westborough. The meeting aimed to share best practices and brainstorm seafood marketing strategies across different states. Despite diverse seafood markets and landscapes, participants were interested in collaboration through projects such as joint grant applications in the future.  

Video Content 

Cooking Videos with Laura Foley Ramsden  

The Seafood Marketing Program was excited to distribute 15 new one-minute inspirational cooking videos throughout the summer and fall of 2025. Laura Foley Ramsden, a fourth-generation fish mongress, generously donated her time to star in and host the filming of these videos. The campaign was initially shared on DMF’s Instagram and Facebook accounts, and all videos now are available on DMF’s YouTube channel. These videos were produced by DMF’s Seafood Marketing Program and On the Water Magazine and feature a variety of local species with a focus on flatfish. 

Fish ceviche served in white bowl with plantains, and hake slides held in two hands and served with watermelon.
Left: Fresh fluke ceviche served with plantain chips. Right: Hake sliders served with watermelon, chips, and pickles.

Holiday Social Media Inspiration 

The Seafood Marketing Program is partnering with New England Registered Dietitian, seafood enthusiast, and seafood cookbook author Jenny Shea Rawn for a new six-part series of holiday recipes featuring Massachusetts seafood. Through this collaboration, we hope to inspire celebration of the holidays with our sustainably sourced and nutrient-rich seafood so that we can support our commercial fishing and seafood industries and communities. See the Thanksgiving recipe in “Dish on Fish.”  

Serving platter with bowls of Jonah crab claw meat, lobster salad, and fresh oysters on the halfshell, surrounded by cheese and crackers.
"Seacuterie" board served with fresh oysters, lobster salad, and Jonah crab claw meat.

By Wendy Wills, Seafood Marketing Coordinator

  • Division of Marine Fisheries 

    The Division of Marine Fisheries manages the state’s commercial and recreational saltwater fisheries and oversees other services that support the marine environment and fishing communities.

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