Greetings!
While our Outreach Coordinator Jen is out on parental leave, I'm here to try to keep everyone up-to-date on happenings within our networks. A lot has happened since our last newsletter!
Read on for some media coverage of the crisis shrimpers are facing in the Gulf, corporate profits raising prices at the grocery store, catch share policies undermining communities' fishing rights, and what we can do about it.
I'm particularly excited about all of the media coverage and podcasts that are helping me understand the interconnectedness of NAMA's work more deeply. I hope you enjoy them too.
In solidarity,
Meg Stratton
Coordination Wizard
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Start your week by taking action with us! |
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Help us block the AQQUA Act!
The AQQUA Act (Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act) would open the floodgates to industrial fish farming. In reality, offshore finfish farms are floating confined animal feeding operations that will pollute our waters, harm marine life, and jeopardize coastal economies.
Stand up for our oceans and coastal communities! Tell Your Senators and Representatives you do not want industrial fish farms in our waters!
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Chefs: Sign our pledge!
Pledge to keep genetically engineered (GE) seafood, including genetically engineered salmon, off our menus, plates, and purchasing orders.
As trusted voices in the food world, it is critical that chefs raise attention to this issue and help ensure a future with truly sustainable seafood that will nourish our communities for generations to come.
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Stay Tuned: NOAA Public Comment Period
NOAA Fisheries is updating their National Standards, and we need you to help us advocate for community fishermen.
NAMA's network of fishermen and staff are reviewing NOAA's proposed rules now, and finding ways to make sure that the new National Standards support local fishermen coastal economies, and a just seafood system.
Keep an eye out for an opportunity to weigh in next month.
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Seafood Throwdown at the Boston Jerk Fest! |
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Jon Russell here, NAMA's Food Justice Organizer.
On July 8th I had the privilege to emcee the Seafood Throwdown at the Boston Jerkfest, talking to the the crowd about the reality of our seafood system, imported seafood, and industrial fish farms while two local chefs went head to head in a cook off with a surprise local seafood ingredient.
Jerkfest is always a good time, and being Jamaican myself, all the familiar good food, good people, good music, and everything else is always a soul refresher. But on top of that, to see a microcosm of locally sourced foods with incredible local chefs who can cook in culturally relevant ways gives me that little snapshot of what Food Sovereignty could look like, which is a powerful reminder of why we do this work we do!
Seeing the faces on the judges of the Seafood Throwdown as they tasted this delicious meal prepared by the chefs is the the ribbon on top. Returning judges Reggie Jean of Haley House Boston and Jamey Lionette of Red's Best were joined by 3 judges from the crowd (including two very young food-critics-to-be).
When time ran out and the chefs served their dishes, our 8-year-old judge tasted the black sea bass, looked up at the chef and said, “you are the best chef ever!”
It was a delight for the whole crowd to see the judges' faces light up on the first bite of these dishes. Ultimately Chef Chris Faison was selected as the winner, but the real winners are everyone who now knows about both of these chefs and the local underutilized seafood provided so they can hopefully get more of it in the future (and join us in the struggle of making that future for all)!
See you again next year at Boston Jerk Fest 2024!!
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Civil Eats:
Cheap Imports Leave US Shrimpers Struggling With ‘Starvation Wages’
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Civil Eats:
Food Prices Are Still High. What Role Do Corporate Profits Play?
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Mongabay:
At sea as on land? Activists oppose industrial farming in U.S. waters
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Surf & Turf's Latest Episodes |
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Brett Tolley, catch shares and the souls of fishing communities
Learn about catch shares with Brett Tolley, NAMA's National Program Coordinator.
Brett draws from his experiences growing up in a multigenerational fishing family to explain the impact of the catch share system on fishing communities and the Catch Share Reform Coalition's proposal to manage our fisheries more equitably.
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Will Sennott, Wall Street & foreign ownership of US fishing rights
Surf & Turf interviews journalist Will Sennott to follow up on his groundbreaking article in ProPublica. Will explains the connections between the catch share program, private equity, and how communities have lost access to fishing rights.
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Tune in every Monday for new episodes of Surf & Turf, Local Catch Network’s podcast, hosted by Dr. Caroline Ferguson
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Social media to add to your feed! |
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Don't Cage Our Ocean (DCO2)
Check out DCO2's new summer reading list to deepen your knowledge of offshore fish farming and values-based seafood systems.
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New England Culinary Arts Training
(NECAT)
NECAT empowers adults facing barriers to employment through training in culinary skills, social-emotional development and career-readiness for success and long-term financial stability.
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Block Corporate Salmon
(BCS)
Follow along with Block Corporate Salmon to track how you can support this campaign led by indigenous people and communities to
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NAMA is a fishermen-led organization building a broad movement toward healthy fisheries, and fishing communities.
We build deep, and trusting relationships with community based fisherman, crew, fishworkers, and allies to create effective policy, and market strategies.
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