Community supported fishery

A community supported fishery (CSF) is a shore-side community of people collaborating with the local fishing community. Tailored after the community supported agriculture model, a CSF contributes freshly caught local seafood to the local markets while providing fishermen with a better price on less catch. CSF members give the fishing community financial support in advance of the season, and in turn the fishermen provide a weekly share of seafood during the harvesting season. Community supported fisheries aim to reconnect people with the ocean that sustains them and build a rewarding relationship between the fishermen and the shareholders.

Port Clyde pilot

A pilot CSF was started in the fall of 2007 when the Mid-Coast Fishermen’s Cooperative out of Port Clyde, Maine, the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and the First Universalist Church in Rockland, Maine, created the first CSF in New England. The Port Clyde CSF began by delivering shrimp. The pilot proved so successful that in the spring of 2008, the Port Clyde community expanded their CSF beyond shrimp. Today, this program delivers fresh, Maine caught shrimp and groundfish to several different locations throughout their local community. In addition, the Midcoast Fishermen's Coop has opened a processing center where they now pick shrimp and offer filleted fish as well.

Triple bottom line

Community supported fishery programs include a triple bottom line

• Environmental stewardship: to encourage an ethic of ecological stewardship that results in creative, community-based approaches to marine conservation.
• Local economies: to increase the viability of traditional coastal communities by fostering economic opportunities that support natural resource-based livelihoods.
• Social improvements: to cultivate ties and establish bonds between shoreside communities and inshore urban, suburban and rural communities by providing fresh, local seafood.

See also

• Artisan fishing
• Fishing village
• Sustainable fisheries

References

• McGoodwin JR (2001) Understanding the cultures of fishing communities. A key to fisheries management and food security FAO Fisheries, Technical Paper 401. ISBN 978-92-5-104606-7.

External links

• Local Co-op Helping Keep Alive the Fishing Community
• Cape Ann Fresh Catch Earns New Honor
• The Food Staff's Favorite Things of 2009 - Community Supported Fisheries
• Community Supported Ingenuity, Coastwatch, Winter 2010
• Keeping Local Seafood Afloat: Workshop Explores Consumer Trends And Marketing Strategies Coastwatch, Early Summer 2008
• Carteret Catch: New Marketing Project Promotes Local Seafood Coastwatch, Holiday 2005
• Boat-to-Table Fishing CSAs Catching On YES! Magazine, by Ellen Tyler and Daniel Fireside, Winter 2010