coastal North Carolina Archives - North American Marine Alliance

Wild Shellfish Harvesting in North Carolina: Äna Shellem’s Story

February 11, 2026

Fisherwoman Ana Shellem stands in a marshy area with a partly cloudy sky behind her. She is wearing a baseball cap and suspenders and is smiling. A muddy bucket sits in front of her.

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 …