New Bern has bears. Norfolk mermaids. The Roanoke River Low Country will have rockfish.

The Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau announced Friday the Roanoke Valley Rocks campaign in which businesses can buy sculpted rockfish and commission artists to paint the rockfish and customize it for their particular business — a doctor’s office might have a rockfish statue with a stethoscope.

Sherry Wade of the arts council prepares to introduce guests from

the convention and visitors bureau.

The bureau announced the campaign at the Roanoke River Mill in Weldon during the Halifax County Arts Council’s Roanoke Canal Trail photo exhibit.

The Roanoke Valley Rocks campaign is designed to promote the good things about the area, said Gene Minton, chair of the bureau. “We wanted to put together some activity to have an awareness about feeling good where we are.”

The Roanoke Valley Rocks campaign plays on several themes, Minton said — Weldon being the rockfish capital of the world, music events at the theater and the outdoor venue and the rocks of the falls of the river.

“We were looking for ways to do a PR campaign on what we have here to be proud of,” said Lori Medlin, president of the bureau.

With a horse theme at the Outer Banks and a bear theme in New Bern, the rockfish theme for the low country was a natural choice, Medlin said. “We have 25 artists who will make that dream possible.”

The 72-inch fiberglass rockfish cost $600 and a sponsorship agreement can be obtained through the bureau. The statues come only with a primer and businesses which choose to buy one will commission an artist to paint it.

The bureau will design a map to show the location of the statues, the first to be displayed by June.

Each location that buys a fish will be promoted on radio, newspaper and online.

Halifax Electric Membership is a sponsor of the Roanoke Valley Rocks campaign. “North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives believe that supporting the arts and tourism is vital to a community. The arts bring to life a community’s history; telling the story of what the area once was and where it is now and creating inspiration for future generations,” said Brady Martin.

Businesses interested in buying a rockfish statue are asked to contact the Halifax Convention and Visitors Bureau at 252-535-1687.