Community Supported Fishery

What is a CSF?

A Community Supported Fishery (CSF) is a shore side community of people collaborating with the local fishing community. Tailored after the Community Supported Agriculture model, a CSF contributes freshly caught local seafood to the local markets while providing fishermen with a better price on less catch. CSF members give the fishing community financial support in advance of the season, and in turn the fishermen provide a weekly share of seafood during the harvesting season. A CSF reconnects people to the ocean that sustains them and builds a rewarding relationship between the fishermen and the shareholders.

Port Clyde Pilot

A pilot CSF took life in the fall of 2007 when NAMA teamed up with the Mid-Coast Fishermen’s Cooperative out of Port Clyde, Maine, and First Universalist Church in Rockland, Maine, to create the first CSF in New England. The Port Clyde CSF began by delivering shrimp. The pilot proved so successful that in the spring of 2008, the Port Clyde community expanded their CSF beyond shrimp. Today, this program delivers fresh, Maine caught shrimp and groundfish to several different locations throughout their local community. In addition, the Midcoast Fishermen's Coop has opened a processing center where they now pick shrimp and will soon start filleting fish as well.

In the coming years, NAMA will be working with other communities to establish CSFs throughout the northwest Atlantic region.

Read more about the success of the CSF's in Port Clyde, Maine in the recent Washington Post article.

Looking for a CSF in your neighborhood?

Currently in New England, in addition to Port Clyde there are CSF's in Bath, Portland, Falmouth, Brunswick and Rockland, ME.  The Gloucester, MA community and fishermen are working together to have a CSF by Spring 2009.

Want to start a CSF closer to where you live?

Potential shareholders or fishermen should contact us to discuss developing a new CSF.