Cape Ann Fresh Catch

Grant Program:

Small Grants

Grant Type:

Other Grants

Grant amount requested:

2,500.00

Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.

The Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association is seeking grant funding to assist in the development and expansion of its Cape Ann Fresh Catch- Community Supported Fishery program. In 2008 increasing restrictions on fishermen were once again tearing apart the fabric of the oldest fishing port in America. Seeking a way to open new markets for these environmentally minded fishermen, create new ties to the community and address some of the core issues of sustainability that were at the root of the problem, Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) was created. This program is a collaboration between shore-side residents and the local fishing community. It uniquely combines the marketing of fish and community outreach with local support for fishermen by offering fresh seafood daily- unloaded directly from the boats to the consumers in communities across eastern Massachusetts. With the constant changes in the lives of fishermen, one place where they can begin to take back some control is in their relationships with those who eat what they catch and the price they get paid for their day's work. Community supported fishery programs like CAFC open up new markets for fishermen, placing them in direct contact with environmentally-minded, socially conscious consumers who are eager to protect one of New England’s oldest industries. More importantly, the organizational framework of the program was designed to accomplish the goal of giving fishermen a fair price for their catch. CAFC is a truly community-based program, with benefits that expand far beyond providing new economic and marketing opportunities to fishermen. Along with directly supporting economic opportunities on the waterfront, the program has also created and supported jobs at several shore-side fish processing plants in Gloucester. Furthermore, locally-based food programs like CAFC ensure consumers a higher quality and more transparent processing standards and ultimately provide a competitively-priced higher quality seafood experience. Finally, unclaimed shares of CAFC fish are donated to local food pantries across eastern MA to further expand the community benefit of this program.

Primary Issue Area:

Food

Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:

Whom does your group need to make this project happen?

If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?

Please list these materials or services

Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.

First, CAFC opens new avenues to educate the public on fisheries issues, sustainability, and the importance and value of the seafood bounty available in our own backyards. In addition to getting fishermen a better price for their catch, CSFs allow us to have a conversation with seafood consumers about the entire food-supply-chain process and the ecosystems of the northwest Atlantic. Next, CAFC promotes fishing practices aimed at protecting the ecosystems of the north Atlantic by encouraging environmental sensitivity among fishermen, lowering the carbon footprint associated with seafood distribution and encouraging consumers to make environmentally-friendly food choices. Finally, CAFC provides a great benefit to the consumer by ensuring higher quality processing standards and ultimately providing a competitively-priced, higher quality seafood experience.

Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.

1 000