DukeFish Seeks Participants for June 30th Focus Group
DukeFish, Duke’s student chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), is preparing to launch a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) this fall for the campus community. The initiative - one of the first in the Southeastern United States- seeks to increase consumers’ access to fresh, locally caught, low-impact seafood.
Currently, fishermen face a variety of challenges including environmental change, aging fish processing infrastructure, unstable costs, and competition from foreign imports. Recently, fishers and managers have looked to 'community supported agriculture' (CSA) as a possible model for revitalizing domestic fisheries. The CSA model involves pre-payment by the consumer for a 'share' of the local harvest, which is distributed to the consumer at specific times and locations.
Just as CSAs can encourage sustainable and profitable farming practices, 'community supported fisheries' (CSFs) have the potential to do the same for fishing. The current proposed project seeks to partner with a fishermen's organization (Carteret Catch) and Duke University affiliates to examine a 'scaling up' of the CSF concept that would link fishermen in Carteret County with permanent residents in both Carteret County and the Triangle area, many of whom are already active participants in CSA programs.
DukeFish will be conducting a focus group Tuesday, June 30th, from 5:30-7pm in the HUG Commons Reading Room, at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment. Appetizers and light dinner will be provided to focus group participants. Interested persons should contact Nick Mallos (MEM '10) to RSVP by Friday, June 27th. Details regarding parking will be sent to interested participants.
If you're unable to participate in the June 30th focus group, but are interested in either participating in a future focus group or becoming a member of the CSF, email Nick and your name will be added to the CSF database.