January 13, 2013 — CSFs seek to reconnect coastal communities to their food system, encourage sustainable fishing practices, and strengthen relationships between fishermen and communities.
While reading the most recent copy of Yankee Magazine, I happened upon an article about Community Supported Fisheries, or CFS, in New England, started by fishermen in Gloucester. According to the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance website, namanet.org/csf: "Based on the community-supported agriculture model, a community supported fishery is a program that links fishermen to a local market. In a CSF, customers pre-pay for a 'season' of fresh, local, low-impact seafood, and in turn they receive a weekly or bi-weekly share of fish or shellfish.
CSFs seek to reconnect coastal communities to their food system, encourage sustainable fishing practices, and strengthen relationships between fishermen and communities. Though each CSF is designed to fit its local context, several core elements tie them together. CSFs establish a transparent chain-of-custody from boat to fork; increase access to premium, locally caught seafood; ensure fishers receive a fair price for their catch that reflects the value of their work; engage fishers and community members in more robust, viable, local food systems; and provide a framework through which fishers and customers alike can creatively steward marine resources."
Read the full letter in the New Bedford Standard Times