Our Mission
From the edge of the wild Pacific Ocean, we source direct from local Oregon fishers to connect you with extraordinary seafood experiences.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
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We believe in keeping local seafood local.
We source directly from 30 local boats, keeping your food dollars recirculating in the local economy. Much to our dismay, 90% of the seafood consumed on the Oregon coast is imported from distant markets while most Oregon-caught seafood is immediately exported. Not here at Local Ocean.
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We believe Oregon’s fisheries are worth celebrating.
Oregon’s commercial fisheries are among the most sustainable in the world. With sustainability certifications for Oregon’s Dungeness crab, Pink shrimp, Albacore tuna and Groundfish- including lingcod, blackcod, rockfish- we are a global leader in doing fisheries right.
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We believe the people that DO the work should BENEFIT the most from the work.
Profit sharing and employee engagement are key to our company’s Trust ownership. The Local Ocean Stewardship Trust is a form of employee ownership and exists to benefit those who prepared and served your meal through living wages and opportunities for growth.
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We believe in serving the extraordinary.
The people who make Local Ocean possible have a deep sense of pride in every dish we serve. There is an unbroken chain of respect and careful attention, from the local fishermen of the Newport fleet, to our fish buyer Amber Morris, to Chef Enrique Sanchez and his kitchen crew, to your server. The fish connects us.
About Us
Local Ocean was started in 2002 by two Newport fisherfolk with an idea to showcase the best of Oregon’s seafood and create a new place for local fishermen to sell their catch.
Founder Laura Anderson came from a fishing family, and Al Pazar was a long-time fisherman. Fresh out of college, Anderson had the time and creative inspiration to start and grow the new venture, and Pazar, with two fishing boats and deep relationships to the fleet, could guarantee the quality seafood supply they needed.
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When our doors first opened in 2005, the vision was “a fish market with a little restaurant attached.” Thankfully, our customers had a bigger aspiration for us. As seafood lovers lined up for bowls of crab soup and plates of perfectly grilled tuna mignon we added more tables, expanded outdoor seating, and eventually opened an upstairs addition, doubling our original seating capacity, but always staying true to our values.
Today Local Ocean's is owned by the Local Ocean Stewardship Trust. The Trust is a form of employee ownership. It ensures that the company will forever continue to source direct from local fishers and showcase our local species. It requires that we uphold our standards of service and culinary excellence. And it keeps us focused on the big picture by requiring that we continually strive for sustainable business practices and advocate for Oregon's fisheries.
Above all, it makes sure that Local Ocean is operating for the benefit of our employees, fishers, and community; and that the value Local Ocean generates is shared back with everyone who brings value through our practices and profits.
In the words of Anderson, "I can’t think of a better legacy to leave than the continuation of our beloved company in the hands of the people who have co-created it with me."
The Team that
makes it all possible
Being an employee-owned trusted means our team matters more than ever. Many of our team have been with the company for 5+ years. When the average US restaurant employee’s tenure is only 110 days, we are proud to say our average tenure is more than 13x that, at over 4 years! It’s no surprise our guests come back time and time again excited to see familiar faces when they come into the restaurant.
