By Mary White, member of ConcordCAN (Concord Climate Action Network)ConcordCAN has contacted the New England Marine Alliance which is organizing a Community Supported Fishery called the Cape Ann Fresh Catch. It will work similarly to a CSA. If we can get 30 to 50 people in the area interested we could apply to be a local drop-off site.
However, the deadline for application is this Saturday, May 9th. I have attached more detailed information about how it works and the benefits of such a program. If you are interested in a share please let me know by this Thursday, May 7th. Let me know what size share you would like. I will then let you know if we have enough people. If so, then we will each email in the application in the Gloucester CSF Application selecting the Concord drop-off. Please feel free sharing this information and my email address with others who you think might be interested.
Quoting below from the Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC), Community Supported Fishery Application (download it here):
Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC), Community Supported Fishery program, or CSF, is a collaboration of shore-side residents and the local fishing community. 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 to shareholders. A CSF reconnects people to the ocean that sustains them and builds a rewarding relationship between fishermen and shareholders.
WHY SMALL AND LOCAL?
There is an essential quality to seafood that you only get when it's harvested locally and delivered to you just hours out of the ocean. Our small family-owned boats enable us to pay attention to the way fish is caught and to focus on strengthening our local food community, economy, and the sustainability of the ecosystem. The long-term health and abundance of the Gulf of Maine are important to all of us.
Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) will deliver a variety of the freshest haddock, cod, flounder, hake, dabs, grey sole, monkfish, Pollock, and redfish - and possibly other seafood such as clams, lobsters and scallops. In traditional markets fishermen are forced to chase whatever species is fetching the highest price that week. By taking a mix off these species at the same price week-to-week (about $3/lb), fishermen are able to fish areas that are not stressed by the rest of the fleet, and give species and ecosystems time to recover and replenish.
This cooperative system also keeps fishermen safer because they don't have to fight the weather to go offshore for a certain species; if the weather is dangerous, they can stay close to shore and catch only what the CSF needs that week. At the same time, shareholders are guaranteed the freshest, highest quality fish caught. The fish caught for the CSF will never be old or frozen, and it will always come from fishermen who believe in working with the ocean and the community.
For additional info, also download the Community Supported Fishery Basics document.
