Dock to Doorstep: An Overview of Community Supported Fishery (CSF) Programs in the United States & Canada

In response to an increasingly globalized seafood industry, Community Supported Fishery (CSF) programs have gained popularity over the last decade. Based loosely on the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, CSFs have been described as one way to alter the traditional seafood supply chain by connecting fishers more directly to consumers. While there are a number of potential benefits to this marketing strategy, CSF programs can vary with respect to their goals, institutional structure, sourcing practices, distribution methods, and supplementary seafood sales, which may result in differential benefits to consumers and harvesters. To further investigate these differences and why they may occur, I conducted phone interviews with 22 CSFs, representing 56% of the CSFs currently in operation the United States and Canada. Results indicate CSF programs are diverse and greater consideration should be taken to understand the potential benefits of each unique model. To draw attention to the diversity of arrangements the term ‘CSF’ represents, and help ensure the potential benefits of particular CSF arrangements are presented accurately, three types of CSFs are identified based on the results of this study.