In a feature from Eastbound Magazine, Äna Shellem is profiled as a North Carolina commercial fisherwoman who wild-harvests oysters, mussels, and clams from the salt marshes near Masonboro Island. Over the years, Äna has developed her business, Shell’em Seafood, through direct relationships with chefs.

She created a market for her mussels by working closely with restaurants and delivering ultra-fresh shellfish herself. Though climate change, stronger storms, and pollution from development and agriculture are shrinking her season and damaging shellfish beds, Äna continues adapting her work to stay in sync with the ecosystem and seasons.

Äna also chooses to keep her harvests small, avoid major distributors, and keep a close connection between the marsh and the plate. Chefs and even brewers in North Carolina value her catch for its quality and flavor.

Dive into Äna’s story to see how shellfish move from marsh to restaurant →
Visit Shell’em Seafood to find out what Äna’s harvesting →

Pictured: Äna Shellem harvests wild shellfish in the salt marshes near Masonboro Island, where her work follows the rhythms of tide and season. Photo by Mallory Cash