The Community Supported Fishery (CSF) Model

1. The Community Supported Fishery (CSF) Model Creating a Direct Connection Between Fishermen and Consumers Presented by Anna Child June 15,2011

2. Objectives • Background on North Carolina commercial fishing industry • Idea behind the community supported fishery (CSF) model • How business works, successes, challenges, future • Ideas for model to be applied internationally

3. 130 km of coastline Harker’s Island area nicknamed “Downeast”

4. History of North Carolina Coast • For nearly 400 years, fishermen have worked on the water, built boats and nets, and sold seafood along the coast • Fishermen can trace their fishing heritage back four or five generations • Some traditional fishing methods still used

7. Species Caught in NC In-Shore Off-Shore Yellowfin Tuna Grouper Triggerfish Black Sea Bass Striped Sea Bass Mahi-Mahi Pompano Snapper Tilefish King Mackerel Clams Oysters Blue Crabs Shrimp Flounder Bluefish Jumping Mullet Red Drum Black Drum Croaker Spot Sheephead Spotted Trout

8. Challenges Facing the Coast • Decline from the 1990s • Fishing communities struggle to maintain a viable fishing industry • Collection of events and conditions make it extremely difficult for local commercial fishermen to sustain a livelihood

9. Causes of Decline • Influx of less expensive seafood from abroad • From 2000 to 2005: 40% decline in dollar value of seafood landed, from $108 million to $64 million (NCDMF, 2006) • 90% of shrimp found in the US market are imports • From 1997 to 2002: wholesale prices of shrimp fell ~40% (Fritsch, 2004)

10. Causes of Decline • Increased regulations on fishing techniques, amount, species and by-catch • Can give foreign competitors an advantage • Tensions between recreational and commercial fishermen

11. Causes of Decline • Increased population growth and development from tourism industry • High fuel costs mean that cost of production >profit • Runoff from fertilizers, pesticides and wastes from agricultural industry

12. Market Challenges • Most fishermen sell to the fish house • Offer services such as ice machines, coolers, fuel, mechanics • In the 1980s, >20 fish houses in operation. In 2011, four fish houses operate Downeast

13. Impact • From 1999 to 2006, more than 1000 fishermen have stopped working as commercial fishermen, >50% decrease (NCDMF, 2006) • Decline in both total landings and dollar values of seafood

14. North Carolina Total Landings 1972-2005 (NCDMF, 2007) • However, increase in demand for seafood in the US.

15. Consumer Demand for Local • 295 consumers surveyed in NC, 89% said it was important that seafood they eat in NC be local. 83% responded they were willing to pay more. • Why? • 31% taste • 30% supporting a local economy • 15% personal health • 15% supporting the local environment • 9% misc Andreatta & Parlier, 2010

16. Local, Direct Sales • New strategy borrowed directly from the U.S. small-scale farmers • Farmers face similar trends, turned to selling directly to obtain a higher price

17. Local, Direct Sales • Farmers created community supported agriculture (CSA) shares that functions as a buy-in club • Consumers or “shareholders” pay the farmer for a share of the harvest in advance • For farmer, payment covers seasonal start-up production costs • For consumer, get a regular share of fresh produce during production season • Model has now been adapted for fish

18. Community Supported Fishery (CSF) Shares • Prepayment is the shareholder’s investment in “their” fishermen • Variety of fish species are provided on a seasonal basis • Fishermen are able to sell their products at a premium

19. CSF Businesses • First CSFs established in Maine and Massachusetts • Now, twenty total in the U.S. • Gaining significant media coverage

20. Core Sound Seafood • Established in March 2010 • First season from June-August 2010, subsequent seasons in fall of 2010 and spring of 2011 • Drop off 4 hrs from coast

21. Share Options Weekly Bi-weekly • Full Share (1.8kg) • enough for a family for 1-2 meals • 310 euro for 10 deliveries • Half Share (.9kg) • enough for a couple for 1-2 meals • 155 euro for 10 deliveries • Full Share (1.8 kg) • enough for a family for 1-2 meals • 155 euro for 10 deliveries • Half Share (.9kg) • enough for a couple for 1-2 meals • 78 euro for 10 deliveries Also provide a weekly email detailing what is in share, who caught it and how, cultural history, how weather impacts fishing and suggested recipes

22. Example of Seafood ProvidedSpring 2011 Season • Week 1: Flounder & Shrimp • Week 2: Bluefish & Scallops • Week 3: Jumping Mullet & Clams • Week 4: Flounder & Shrimp • Week 5: Pink Snapper & Soft Shell Crabs • Week 6: Spanish Mackerel & Shrimp • Week 7: Crabmeat & Clams • Week 8: Flounder & Blue Crabs • Week 9: Spanish Mackerel & Soft Shell Crabs • Week 10: Black Sea Bass & Crabmeat =Biweekly

23. Successes on Supply Side • Consistently bought from five Downeast fishermen, total fifteen • On average, pay fishermen 30% more than fish house • Guaranteed market for a portion of catch before they catch it • Downeast Fund

24. Successes on Consumer End • Grown from one drop off location to three • Grown from 100 shareholders to 200 • Beginning to sell to wholesale markets • Shareholders learning about new fish species, seasonality in seafood, enjoy supporting local “The newsletter and recipes are great and I especially love knowing a bit of background about who caught the share, what the weather was like, etc. It's great being so tied to the whims of the weather and seeing how that impacts fishing. Definitely makes me more aware of my food.”

25. Challenges • At times, difficult to fill shares • Difficult to work with same fishermen consistently • Working with consumer assumptions around sustainable fishing • Offering enough variety • High fuel price • Need more shareholders

26. Future Plans • Offering a fall share in September • Partnered with NGO to donate leftover fish • Connection with farmers to bring local produce back to coast

27. Ideas for Model to be Applied Internationally? • Must have access to high income market willing to pay premium price • Work with existing fishing cooperative organizations in developing countries with a focus on marketing, investment in infrastructure and compliance to quality/safety regulations • Possibility for N. African CSF to nearby European markets? • Work with artisanal fishermen groups in Europe to form CSFs?

28. Works Cited Andreatta & Parlier 2010 The Political Ecology of Small-Scale Commercial Fishermen in Carteret County, North Carolina. Human Organization (Mobile, AL) Summer 2010. Fritsch, Peter 2004 As Shrimp Industry Thrives in Vietnam, Trade Fight Looms. The Wall Street Journal (New York), October 21. URL: <http://www.americaneconomicalert.org/view_art.asap?Prod_ID=1226> (March 15, 2011). North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) 2006 North Carolina License and Statistics Section. Summary Statistics. URL: http://www.ncfisheries.net/download/2005BigBookofData_1sted.pdf (March 15,2011). North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) 2006 Fish Dealer Report. License and Statistics Section. URL: http://www.ncfisheries.net/download/JanJun06FishDealerReport.pdf (March 15,2011)

29. “...the small-scale sector can be expected to remain the backbone of the fishery sector in many if not most developing countries for many years to come. It is therefore all the more necessary that institutional changes are implemented to ensure the sustainability of the sector as well as safeguarding its important contribution to local food security, to economic development, to generation of employment and income and as a supplier of safe, nutritious, wholesome fish and fishery products to domestic and international consumers.” Committee on Fisheries, Sub-Committee on Fisheries Bremen, Germany, February 2004: Issues of Access of Small-Scale Fisheries Catch to International Trade