Subsistence Fish Consumption on the Lower Cape Fear River: Summary of Research 2016-2022

Two separate studies, a household survey (2016-2017) and a bankside survey combined with key actor interviews (2019-2020) were conducted to assess wild caught fish consumption practices in the lower Cape Fear River. While the number of respondents for each survey were not sufficient to conduct complex statistical analyses, together they paint a fairly detailed picture of who is consuming what types of fish, from where, and why. The results indicate that those eating fish from the river tend to be low-income and/or food insecure individuals and families. Key actor interviews and publicly available data for the region indicate that those groups are in turn more likely to be Latinx and African American. These studies also suggest that some people who eat fish from the lower Cape Fear River are consuming types and quantities of fish that likely pose health risks, especially for children and pregnant people. Preferred species include larger, saltwater fish: red drum, black drum, and trout. Catfish is by far the most popular freshwater species. Bass (freshwater/anadromous) was also popular across both surveys. This research also suggests that fishers are sharing their catch widely with family and friends. Frying, which can trap fat-loving contaminants, was the most popular cooking method across both surveys by a significant margin, followed by baking and grilling. The results of these studies also indicated that while many people are aware of the official fish consumption advisories, the majority, while they would be open to changing a number of practices to reduce exposure to chemical contaminants in fish, would not be willing to stop consuming wild caught fish altogether. This is likely tied to the dietary and economic importance of wild caught fish, but also to the expressed cultural identity embedded within the practice of fishing for both native North Carolinians and immigrant communities.