The Local Catch Network — a group of seafood harvesters, researchers and community organizations — is holding its fourth annual #FindYourSeafoodWeek to connect consumers directly with fishing families and seafood harvesters and to raise awareness of local fisheries across the U.S. and Canada.
The social media campaign will run from Sept. 8-14 with the goal of increasing the visibility of domestic seafood harvesters and businesses that participate in direct marketing — in other words, selling their catch directly to consumers, rather than relying on complex and often murky supply chains, according to a news release.
The Local Catch Network, founded in 2011 and based in the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine in Orono, has grown from about 200 members in 2021 to more than 500 today.
The campaign is focused on highlighting the importance of community-based fisheries in building resilient seafood systems, and on helping home cooks and restaurants find seafood.
“There is a tendency to forget that seafood is an integral part of the nation’s food system, but achieving greater seafood independence can improve equity, health and buffers from climate change,” said Joshua Stoll, UMaine associate professor of marine policy.
The campaign provides an app called Seafood Finder that provides information about community-based fishing businesses, the locations they operate, the number of fishermen they partner with and the types of catch they offer during #FindYourSeafoodWeek and beyond.
“Using the LCN Seafood Finder allows families to bypass the mega-conglomerate grocery stores whose global supply chains are often environmentally unsustainable, fraught with human exploitation and harmful to ecosystems throughout the world,” said Laughton Elliott-DeAngelis, Local Catch Network’s coordinator.
To access the Seafood Finder tool, click here.
