2 weeks Ago By Elise Hadley
Governor Kathy Hochul has officially set the course for the first Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail. This South Shore stretch promises to entice both maritime culinary enthusiasts and weekend visitors, all with the goal to spotlight sustainably harvested local seafood and boost New York's aquaculture industry. According to the announcement, the trail kicks off in Bay Shore and sails all the way to Montauk, with 20 official stops aimed at supporting the local economy.
The trail's ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at The Snapper Inn in Oakdale, and State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball was present to celebrate the launch. In a bid to really connect visitors with the local fare, a digital app is in the works, designed to easily guide seafood lovers to the best dishes around.
As reported by Governor Hochul's office, this app and its online counterpart, set to launch in just a few weeks, are part of the broader Blue Food Transformation initiative announced in the 2024 State of the State proposal. This plan is set to firmly re-establish New York's place on the seafood map and strengthen local food systems.The North Shore Trail is also on the horizon and is expected to dot the map from Oyster Bay to Greenport in the near future.
Beyond the trails, the initiative isn't just casting a line for customers. It deeply involves stakeholders through a Seafood Processing Feasibility Study to sniff out any hiccups in expanding Long Island's seafood processing ability, making sure that what gets caught can be brought to market effectively.Also joining the feast, the New York State Seafood Interagency Workgroup—an amalgamation of state agencies including AGM, DEC, and Empire State Development—aims to optimize state policies and programs on everything from aquaculture licensing to food safety, according to Governor Hochul's office.
After all, with Long Island commercial fishermen making waves with over 16 million pounds of finfish raked in for $28 million in 2023 alone, it would be fair for the state to expect to leverage such abundant resources fully.The New York State Restaurant Association is buzzing with anticipation as we gear up for prime tourism season. President and CEO Melissa Fleischut conveyed excitement for the trails to drive both awareness and diners to local establishments this summer.
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