What is Cape Ann Fresh Catch Community Supported Fishery?
Brought to you by the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association (GFWA), with the support of MIT SeaGrant and the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) Community Supported Fishery program, or CAFC CSF, is a collaboration between shore-side residents, businesses, and the local fishing community. CAFC CSF members give the fishing community financial support in advance of their season, and in turn the fishermen provide a weekly share of seafood during the harvesting season to shareholders. CSFs directly reconnect people to the ocean and our rich, fishing heritage. This is done by building an equitable relationship between fishermen, the shareholders who help sponsor them, and the oceans that sustain us.
Cape Ann Fresh Catch’s goal is to deliver the highest quality, seasonal, sustainably-caught, local seafood.
In traditional markets, fishermen chase the species fetching the highest price that week. By fishing sustainably and offering their catch at a fixed price per pound for the season. CAFC fhish landings relieve the areas stressed by the larger market-driven forces, thus, giving species and ecosystems time to recover and replenish. It’s a win-win-win for enhancing environmental stewardship, building our local economies, and strenthening those bonds through locally-based, seasonal, food supply-chains.
Intentionally, this new, cooperative system also keeps fishermen and their boats safer.
Mother Nature happens. The waters of the Northwest Atlantic are unforgiving and the safety of our fishing fleet is at the fore. If the conditions are unsafe for fishermen, we don’t land fish. In turn, this is why our shareholders are guaranteed the freshest, highest quality fish. The fish caught for the CAFC CSF will never be old or frozen. CAFC seafood will always come from fishermen who follow safe, sustainable stewardship of our natural resources. CAFC CFS will always seek to work in harmony with Mother Nature and by doing so, land the freshest fish possible.
If you’re interested in joining our next season, please visit our website directly for more information or email us at info@capeannfreshcatch.org.