Hannah Jo Community Supported Fishery

Nieuwkerk FamilyKnoep Nieuwkerk has been fishing since 1996. His boat, the Hanna Jo, is a 38' Novi boat and fishes out of Government Warf on the Kennebunk River in Maine. It's a family operation: Knoep is on the water year round, his wife, Lucinda, delivers the catch from the dock each morning to Portland, and their children are often found on the boat.

The Hannah Jo delivers fish the morning after it's caught. Day fish is always fresher, sweet smelling and delicious. Day fish is often the first pick at the Portland Fish Exchange.

Knoep believes the way to fish sustainably is to catch a variety of fish. Knoep fishes to order, never catching more fish than he can sell. This way he's not taking more fish from the sea than he knows he has buyers for. Less waste.

FV Hannah Jo

"I loved fishing since I was a kid.  I grew up in a fishing community where I used to see gillnetters come in the harbor, deck loaded with fish.  They would cut and gut next to the pier and I thought, “I want to do that.”  I was also attracted to fishing because of the lifestyle, as a kid I liked the lobstermen and the fishermen.  They seemed to have their own micro-community.  They worked independently but they would work together when they had to, like when there were storms and traps were snarled up.  I have always wanted to fish commercially, and I worked hard to be able to.  I still like fishing because I enjoy finding the fish.  I like trying different gear types, and trying to catch different species.  It is never the same for me; there is always more to learn, that is what keeps me interested.  I would like to see the fishing industry go in a sustainable direction."

-an excerpt of Knoep Nieuwkerk’s narrative in Sharing The Ocean: Stories of Science, Politics, and Ownership form America’s Oldest Industry

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