Sustainably delicious

Taking a page from farmers, American fishermen are offering their local communities shares in their catch through community supported fisheries.  By purchasing a share at the beginning of the season, consumers get an allotment of fresh seafood each week directly from the folks on the boat.  It’s a promising example of how sustainability, buying locally, and supporting small businesses can interact.

While less widespread than community supported agriculture, coastal communities like those in  North Carolina and Maine can enjoy the benefits of tremendously fresh seafood while also doing something good.  Here’s a quick run-down of the benefits this model has over more traditional seafood harvest and distribution:

First, it’s a good way for small-scale fishermen to have a more reliable and more livable income.  As fish stocks worldwide are declining, smaller operations in traditional fishing towns have suffered; most of the growth in the industry comes from huge ships operating in remote and dangerous seas.  Community supported fisheries provide local boats money at a critical time and can provide fishermen with a higher price for their catch than merchants.

Second, the structure promotes sustainability – to an extent.  The history of commercial fishing has largely failed to ensure fish harvests in a given area remain abundant from one generation to the next.  But community supported fisheries promotes a greater bond between consumers and local fishermen, and also gives fishermen a greater sense of economic security – both good steps to prevent overharvest.  While there’s no guarantee all such operations will be sustainable, it at least provides the right kind of environment for it to succeed.

Lastly, community supported fisheries are changing the way people view seafood.  It’s much easier to be disconnected from ocean life because it’s often out of sight, miles from shore and yards beneath the surface.  Connecting consumers with the changes in seafood with seasons, weather and climate emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy oceans in the same way gardening helps people realize how the natural world affects their plants.  Out of sight usually means out of mind – and for the oceans, that’s usually bad news.

It’s good for fishermen, better for the sea and good news for those who like their seafood as fresh as can be.