(STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- A century ago in Barnegat Light, a group of Norwegian fishermen formed a business that today is a beacon of successful, responsible entrepreneurship. Join Karter Larson for a look at the history of Viking Village in a Friends' Adventure at the Ocean County Library Stafford Branch on Thursday, January 9, 2025. The event begins at 10:00am.

Karter’s casual program will shed light on the local fishing industry and the way that it adapts to ongoing environmental changes to support ecology and economics.

The son of co-founder Captain Jon Larson, Karter literally grew up in Viking Village. Now, he serves as part-owner and treasurer of the enterprise that has grown to offer tours and shops, advocate sustainable fishing practices, and lobby support for the American seafood industry.

It started as a lobster fishing co-op, the Independent Fish Company. When lobster beds began to dwindle, Jon and Ole Larson modified their gear for sea bass, the first step toward the scallop, gillnet and longline fishing business that thrives today.

Captain Larson and Captain Lou Puskas pioneered tilefishing in the mid-Atlantic region from their seasonal site on Meyers Dock on 6^th Street in Barnegat Light. In 1975, they seized the opportunity to become Viking Village’s owners and develop a multi-faceted operation.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclStfVillage for this free program sponsored by the Friends of the Stafford Library.

The Friends are volunteers who support the Library through programs, fundraising and advocacy. New members are always welcome. Application forms are available at all OCL branches and reading centers and on the Ocean County Library website.

For more information, stop by the OCL Stafford Branch, 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, call (609) 597-3381 or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events. 

OCL turns 100 in 2025 and you’re why they’re celebrating! See details on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, Pinterest and https://theoceancountylibrary.org.