What is a CSF?
During the last ten years the influx of lower-cost, imported seafood has displaced domestic seafood in many commercial markets. The prevalence of imported seafood now threatens to put an end to the rich tradition and high quality of regionally harvested seafood. Today 80 percent of the seafood eaten in the United States is imported. Yet, according to recent research, a sizeable number of consumers would like to purchase local seafood if the option were available.
Establishment of Community Supported Fisheries or CSFs
A community supported fishery is a program in which someone buys shares or pre-buys into a particular commodity, in this case fish. Shares are typically delivered over a period of time and shareholders are given a schedule of when deliveries will be made which are often weekly. The fishermen are able to essentially cut out the “middle man” resulting in a higher profit and the shareholder receives a consistent high quality product caught locally which supports the local economy.
The first NH fresh fish community supported fishery (CSF) was established in 2008 by Eastman’s Fresh Catch, Seabrook, NH with over 100 customers and five delivery locations. Eastman’s Fresh Catch is a husband and wife owned and operated gill-net fishing vessel and fresh fish market. Since the first season the Eastman CSF has grown to more than 400 customers.
Since that time, the Yankee Fisherman’s Cooperative offered the first NH shrimp CSF during the 2009-2010 shrimp season. The CSF had 150 share holders with four delivery sites. Since these initial efforts more opportunities continue to develop for NH communities to become shareholders and purchase fresh local seafood direct from our fishing community.