Local fishermen have a new way to reach out to customers using an online marketplace where fishermen can advertise their daily specials and fresh catches.
LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant have partnered to launch the LaTer Direct Seafood online marketplace at laterdirectseafood.com.
The purpose of the website is to bring local fishermen and customers together in one location to buy wild-caught, fresh seafood directly from fishermen.
Fishermen can log in to post announcements about their catch to attract more customers. And customers looking for freshly caught seafood can scroll through fresh catch announcements from fishermen describing their latest offerings. There are listings for salty oysters, big, fresh shrimp, live crabs and crab patties.
We’ve been talking about doing something like this for the last few years, said Alan Matherne, fisheries agent with the LSU AgCenter. This enables consumers to hook up directly with producers on the bayous. They can find the product they want and make the phone call to buy it.
Fishermen can go to the website themselves to register and post announcements about their catch.
The online marketplace was launched earlier this month during a Louisiana Seafood Day event held at the Lafourche Central Market farmers market in Raceland.
The marketplace is one of several regional marketplaces under Louisiana Direct Seafood with the goal of building community support to connect consumers with fresh seafood straight off the boat. The program is administered by the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant with money from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Council.
2012 DailyComet.com