Food has long been regarded as playing a crucial role in fostering community and preserving cultural traditions, serving as a key symbol of ethnic identity and contributing to group identity formation; however, there is a notable gap in the literature when it comes to understanding the cultural significance of fishing and fish consumption for Black Americans. Historically, small scale commercial fishing has helped preserve African American traditions related to fish and fishing. Expanding on Niemen et al.’s (2021) study, which found higher involvement of African Americans in fishing for food compared to the racial demographics of Carteret County, North Carolina, this paper investigates the cultural motivations driving this phenomenon. Through semi-structured interviews with Black fishers and fish-eaters on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, the study aims to elucidate the cultural significance of fishing for food - a term that recognizes the less obvious social and cultural motivations behind fishing. While most participants did not cite eating or sharing their catch as their primary motivation, family and friend fish fries emerged as a recurring tradition. Participants described fishing and sharing their catch as a way to continue familial legacies and strengthen community ties, with fish fries also serving as fundraisers within faith communities. These findings underscore the deep-rooted cultural value of fishing for food among Black Americans in the region and emphasize the need to acknowledge minoritized cultural traditions in policy-making. By understanding these traditions, North Carolina’s fishery governance can improve engagement with Black communities and better serve their needs.

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