NEW BERN -- North Carolina seafood is being farmed more and more on land, and it's what's bringing hundreds together at 30th annual NC Aquaculture Development Conference to share ideas and information on the growing industry.

The four-day event started Wednesday and includes workshops, seminars and farm tours along with a cultured seafood festival with a variety of aquaculture dishes.

According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, aquaculture is a more than $50 million industry.

"The focus is not just aquaculture development, but consumer development,” said Pete Anderson with the N.C. Department of Agriculture. “With over 90 percent of the seafood in this country being imported from overseas, the focus is making sure consumers are educated to know where their seafood is coming from," Anderson said.

The aquaculture conference will continue Saturday at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center with a focus on shellfish.