Land based producers have been doing it for years; collecting cash up front from customers at the beginning of the season and offering a constant supply of fresh, high quality product in return. And now, at a time when over 85% of American seafood is imported, local fisherman are also getting on board, so to speak.
These community supported fisheries (CSF’s) have blossomed on the east coast, particularly North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine and look set to establish themselves around the rest of the country.
With the influx of cheaper and often less sustainable seafood imports, there is a need for U.S fisherman to cover their costs more innovatively and effectively. With the CSF programs, fisherman get a much needed cash injection at the beginning of the season when they need it most and can increase their profits by eliminating the middleman. Also, when fisherman can get more for their catch, they fish less aggressively which means less negative impacts on the environment.
Do you think a system like this might work in your local area?
