COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED
FISHERY (CSF)

We first got the idea of a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) from our farmer friends who have been running CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) for years. The idea is that communities are brought closer by sharing the risks and rewards of (in this case) fishing. The fisherman gets the assurance of having a market for his fish thereby easing financial uncertainty and allowing a greater investment in the future of the boat and the fishing business.  The consumer gets the highest quality product, the assurance that the product is local and a great price.

HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT FROM JOINING THE CSF?

You will receive a discount on the freshest, highest quality seafood that has been caught locally and harvested sustainably by Captain Mark Marhefka and his crew on the Fishing Vessel Amy Marie or sourced by Mark based on our years of knowledge and friendships in fishing. You also will become more connected with where your seafood comes from, the fishermen that catch it, and the communities in which they live and work. You will get to know Mark, our fishing family, and more about the waters we have made our livelihoods off for generations. You will also have access to the same fish as the best chefs in Charleston who use our fish on their menus.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF JOINING A CSF?

When you join a CSF you will also share the risks of a life dependent on the sea’s bounty! While your life will never face the danger that the Amy Marie’s crew does, by joining a CSF there is a risk to your investment. Weather is the main impediment to fish being available on the market. Our fish availability will change from week to week and season to season and always having popular fish like grouper isn’t the most sustainable plan. Our crew is amazing and will introduce you to a wide variety of fish and shellfish and give you suggestions on how to cook them.

HOW DOES THE ABUNDANT SEAFOOD CSF WORK?

Upon signing up for our CSF you will be credited either $150 or $300 in your special CSF Digital Wallet. You then have the ability to use that money over the course of a quarter at either the dock on Shem Creek or the store in Park Circle. You may choose from the seafood available on the day you shop and you will get a 20% discount on the retail price of that seafood. The money will be deducted from your CSF wallet. Because we know life is unpredictable (no one knows this more than a commercial fisherman) we will carry your wallet balance over for a year if you don’t spend it all in one quarter.

CSF members will enjoy special CSF member-only events such as free lunches at the dock ranging from fish fry days, chowder days to tuna burger days.

WHAT KIND OF FISH ARE WE TALKING HERE?

Captain Mark primarily fishes for species on the snapper grouper complex (this diverse group of reef fishes encompasses 72 species of fish including many species of snappers, groupers, grunts, jacks and sea bass) he also has permits to catch shark, mahi mahi (dolphin), and king mackerel but those species are caught incidentally to his snapper grouper catch.

The species you can expect most commonly at our store and dock are:
Vermillion Snapper, Black Sea Bass, Triggerfish, Pink Snapper, Amberjack

The species that you will find on occasion in your CSF share are:
Gag Grouper, Snowy Grouper, Red Grouper, Scamp Grouper, Mahi Mahi,
White Grunt, Little Tunny, Jolthead Porgy. We also source shrimp, scallops, clams and more fish and shellfish that Mark doesn’t catch.

HOW TO JOIN OUR CSF?

At this time the CSF is full. The good news is that you can still buy our fish at either location. When you visit us you can put your name on the CSF waiting list and we will contact you if spots become available.