Taste-Testing Whets MediaÕs Appetite for MARBIONC

Talk hosted a taste-testing event to garner positive media coverage for MARBIONC's pioneering work in mariculture at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

MARBIONC's mariculture program was successfully raising saltwater fish and marketing them to select restaurants. MARBIONC wanted a publicity effort to accomplish the following: Raise awareness of its mariculture activities Generate demand for maricultured fish species Document its ability to bring pioneering ideas out of the laboratory and into the marketplace A taste-testing event with three local restaurants offered the media an opportunity to personally experience the benefits of mariculture. A media alert and toy fishing game invited media to "hook" this great story. Printed invitations were distributed to local and regional politicians, educators and environmental advocates. The complex topics of marine biotechnology and aquaculture were simplified into layman's terms for the media. Farm-raised sea bass was prepared to demonstrate the quality of maricultured fish A cooking demonstration presented excellent photo opportunities for media. Press materials touting the success - and positive economic impact -- of MARBIONC's mariculture program were distributed to all attending media. The event garnered coverage in the Wilmington Star News, Greater Wilmington Business Journal and Lumina News. The event raised awareness of the availability of farm-raised saltwater fish and created interest among regional restaurants to use local renewable food sources.