Did you hear the news? CSAs aren’t just for farms anymore. There’s a community-supported fishery (CSF) that’s starting out of Gloucester called Cape Ann Fresh Catch. They’re offering shares of fresh whole fish caught by real local fisherman to be picked up in the Boston area. Thanks to Boston Localvores for getting the word out.
Is this not the awesomest idea? I get so frustrated living as close as we do to the ocean and yet struggling to be able to buy local fish. Where does it all go? Japan, I hear. Makes me want to turn to piracy. Aaaaarghh. But since airborne piracy sometimes goes by another name (i.e., terrorism), a CSF is probably a better choice.
Much like CSAs, the idea is to mobilize a group of committed consumers who pay for their shares ahead of time, thereby guaranteeing buyers and a fairer price than the fishermen might otherwise get in a fickle market. The benefits and some of the risk are shared between the provider and the consumer. The fishermen then work with the weather and subjective patterns of nature to catch what makes sense, not just what will fetch the highest price. They also have the flexibility to experiment with more sustainable fishing practices. For more on how local fishermen hope this will keep their industry afloat while up against the ocean-sweeping big guys, read this article in the Globe.
Needless to say, I’m on board. If you do the math, it’s a good deal ($5-$7/lb. if you subtract out the bones). Here’s the info:
Cape Ann Fresh Catch
- 12-week subscription starts in early June
- May include fresh haddock, cod, flounder, hake, dabs, grey sole, monkfish, pollock, redfish, clams, lobsters, scallops
- Fish comes whole (cleaned and gutted, but not filleted)
- Half share: $180 (4-6 lbs per week)
- Full share: $360 (8-12 lbs per week)
Sign up here.
What an excellent idea! I'm fairly certain that the best fish I'm going to get out here in the Midwest is what my husband can catch in Lake Erie.
Posted by: Mary | May 13, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I would get behind this if they were selling sustainable seafood and assuring us they were reducing by-catch. Otherwise, you are in danger of supporting depletion of fish stocks and degradation of the ocean environment.
Do you know if the fishermen involved have any stated commitment? Several of the fish you mention are red list/AVOID fish ....
This is a tricky area that changes all the time. I encourage everyone to share info and push toward transparency. Guilt does not make good gravy and I can't enjoy a meal that's contributing to extinction.
I'm here to help. Resources on my blog.
Posted by: Jacqueline Church | May 15, 2009 at 12:55 AM
I want to let you know how much I love your blog. I've been reading it on and off (I'm on now I swear) for a year.
I'm on Cape Cod and am such a good good locavore 9 months out of the year...you are helping with the other few months. Thanks!
Posted by: liz miles | May 17, 2009 at 07:29 AM
liz: Thanks for writing! I haven't been a very good locavore the last three months, but I cut myself some slack in the springtime. Glad I could be some help!
Jacqueline: Thanks for your comment. I had sent some questions in to them last week and I'm waiting for a response. I saw that cod and flounder were among the fish listed and wondered how they planned to handle these depleted populations. My sense is that it won't be a perfect arrangement right out of the gate, but that with time and member feedback, it could be an excellent way to get local communities involved in the issues surrounding their area fishing grounds. I'm willing to give them some leeway (within reason) because I think the community-supported model has a lot of potential. We'll see. Nothing's in stone, yet.
Mary: You have your own private, in-house CSF. What could be better?
Posted by: Tammy | May 17, 2009 at 09:31 PM