Download Sustainable Seafood Program Linking the NH Commercial Fishing

Sustainable Seafood Program
Linking the NH Commercial Fishing
Industry to Local Consumers
Dr. Kenneth La Valley
Dr. Erik Chapman
So Where are
We Now?
Status quo….
Locally
caught fish
Sales
Out of
Region
Local
• Limited local access
to seafood
• Limited opportunities
for marketing
• Limited product
diversification
• Largely supplies outof-state auction
network
US Seafood Imports and Exports, in billions of USD
1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act
• Amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
• Must manage US
Fisheries Sustainably
• Must end overfishing
• Stocks are assumed
overfished unless
proven otherwise
• Burden of proof falls on
the fishing industry
Fishermen are Responsible Stewards
• Collaborative Research
– Conservation gear
• Ambitious recovery plans
• Focus on fisheries science
• New management approaches
– Catch share programs
– Conservative (reduced) allowable catches
– Intensive monitoring (strict penalties in place)
March 8, 2011
“We have turned a corner in our management
of fisheries in this country, and the sacrifices
made and being made by so many who rely on
this industry are showing great promise”
-Erik Schwaab, Assistant Administrator
of Fisheries, NOAA.
Fishermen (in particular…small, familyrun vessels) are struggling
NH Fishermen are operating at approximately
50% of 2010 total landings…
Sustainable Seafood Program
• Increase the use of local seafood by consumers
through education and access
• Increase the capacity of local commercial
fishermen to direct-to-market their products
Connecting the NH Fishing Industry to local
communities
 NH Seafood Branding
Initiative
 Farmer’s Market
Participation
 Community Supported
Fisheries (CSFs)
 Development of a
regional processing
facility
 Direct Marketing
Resource Development
So Where are
Going?
Locally
caught fish
Sales
Out of
Region
Local
Innovative
Fishermen
Marketers,
local
businesses
Extension
workers
Locally
caught fish
Sales
Out of
Region
Local
Innovative
Fishermen
Marketers,
local
businesses
Extension
workers
Public
education
Distribution
network
Processing
facility
Locally
caught fish
Sales
Out of
Region
Local
Innovative
Fishermen
Marketers,
local
businesses
Extension
workers
?
Public
education
Distribution
network
Processing
facility
Locally
caught fish
Sales
Out of
Region
Local
Innovative
Fishermen
Marketers,
local
businesses
Extension
workers
?
We Have the Opportunity for Sustainable
Marine Fisheries!
Must tap into existing and future agricultural
food distribution infrastructure
• Farmers markets
• Fish to schools
• Restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Agriculture networks
• Food cooperatives
PARTNERSHIPS = IMPLEMENATION !
We Have the Opportunity for
Sustainable Marine Fisheries!
Consumer and Fishermen Win!
•
•
•
•
Healthy food
Sustainable practices
Community connections
Supporting local communities and a local
economy
• You know where your fish is coming from!
We Have the Opportunity for Sustainable
Marine Fisheries!
A local fish economy is critical
(and possible!)