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Dear Sea Grant Stakeholders,
A new movement is underway--a socioeconomic sea change that is preserving the jobs and livelihoods of fishermen, opening new markets for locally caught seafood, and delivering fresh, safe and sustainable catch to consumers. Sea Grant programs, in partnership with small-scale fishermen, are at the forefront of this Local Catch movement. In response to the flood of seafood imports and numerous other challenges confronting our nation's fisheries, Sea Grant has pioneered innovative direct marketing, branding and business strategies that are creating new revenue streams and opportunities for fishermen and benefiting consumers.
These business models were the focus of a May 2012 Sea Grant-sponsored roundtable and Congressional briefing (see sidebar), and a summit held last week in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Collectively, these events convened more than 100 participants, including Sea Grant directors, extension agents and others from the network and National Sea Grant Office, fishermen, National Marine Fisheries Service employees, NGOs, representatives from USDA and Congressional staff.
The roundtable and briefing, followed by the first-ever National Summit on Community Supported Fisheries (CSFs) in New Hampshire, are unique in that they brought together fishermen and those who support them to learn from each other and to identify areas for improvement along with new opportunities.
Here are some of the key "take home" messages:
- Fishermen are seeking opportunities to network, to share information and experiences and to learn from each other.
- By comparing experiences, fishermen can develop a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by CSFs and other Local Catch business models, and can identify current and potential resources for support.
While competition is alive and well in this industry, it is gratifying that many small-scale fishermen recognize the value of working together to support each others' success, particularly during times of economic challenge. This too marks a sea change. I believe that Sea Grant, in its dual business training and honest broker roles, has helped foster this collaborative spirit and sense of community that spans state borders and regions.
Sea Grant is helping fishermen capitalize on new opportunities--opportunities designed not just to help our nation's small-scale fishermen survive, but to help them thrive.
More information on our Local Catch activities is available online. In several weeks, a final report from the CSF summit in New Hampshire will be shared on localcatch.org as well as a guide from the National Sea Grant Law Center titled, Starting and Maintaining Community Supported Fishery (CSF) Programs: A Resource Guide For Fishermen and Fishing Communities. We hope you will find these resources helpful.
Regards,
Leon M. Cammen,
Director, National Sea Grant College Program
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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