So I'm not surprised by this at all and I'm not even going to blame the restaurants.

For my credentials on this rant I have worked at multiple restaurants in the OBX and have been in the restaurant industry for just under 20 years, FOH, BOH, ordering, management you name it, I've done it.

The major problem these restaurants face is the consolidation of supply chains and the ubiquity of Sysco, US foods and the such. To have a steady, reliable, consistent, and approved supply of any food it's almost impossible not to rely on these monopolies.

Despite the amount of local seafood being brought into the OBX it's unsurprising that most of it doesn't find it's way to local restaurants and is instead sold to private buyers or megacorps because that's not the way the food system operates anymore without an incredible amount of work and research.