Elm City Beat

Thimble Island Oyster Co. has teamed up with Miya’s Sushi Restaurant to create the first Community Supported Fishery in Connecticut. Modeled on land-based CSAs, we’ve created a way for local residents to eat local, help restore the shoreline’s ocean ecosystem, and support local shellfish farmers. Modeled on land-based CSA’s, this is the first ocean-based CSF program in CT history, dedicated to producing fresh, organic, and sustainable seafood for our local community. For a purchased share of Thimble Island Oyster Co, CSF members will receive one dozen oysters and two dozen clams each month for 6 months — harvested the morning of delivery. And we’re working on adding mussels and scallops to our ocean “bread basket” for next year.

Here’s how: Join our Community Supported Fisheries (CSF)!



Oysterman Bren Smith delivering invasive shore crabs to Chef Bun Lai

Here’s How the CSF Works: Members pay an annual fee toward our farm’s operating costs and, in return, receive a monthly share of our shellfish harvest. As a CSF member, you’ll receive one dozen oysters and two dozen clams each month for 6 months — harvested the morning of delivery.
CSF’s are based on the idea that to produce local sustainable food, growers and consumers need to share the risks and benefits of food production. In other words, you invest in our farm and get local sustainable seafood in return!

Here are Three Reasons You Should Become a CSF Member:

■Eat Local, Sustainable Seafood: Most of our seafood comes from far flung regions of the country and globe. In the era of climate change, flying shrimp in from China or salmon in from Alaska is no longer sustainable. We need to eat local by supporting sustainable farmers in CT.

■Environmental Restoration: Oysters are considered a “keystone” species by conservation biologists because of the critical role they play in maintaining the structure of an ecological community. Our shellfish farm significantly improve water quality and our underwater cages provide habitat for dozens of types sea life, including sponges, crabs and many species of fish. According to Mike Beck, lead marine scientist with The Nature Conservancy. “Shellfish farms represent one of most — if not the most — sustainable form of fish production.”

■Community Investment: Sharing the burden of shellfish losses due to storms, diseases and predators, helps our farm weather bad times, repair equipment, and ensures that we’re growing local food in CT for years to come. If we have a bad season, you’ll get fewer shellfish, but when there’s a bumper shellfish crop, we all do well. Plus, food dollars stay local, which strengthens communities.

How much does it cost to become a CSF member?
Once a year you pay $150. In return, you will receive a dozen oysters and two dozen clams each month for 6 months between June to November. There will be two once-a-month pickup locations: One in New Haven in front of Miya’s Sushi Restaurant; the other on the Stony Creek dock. Once you sign up you’ll receive dates/times and exact locations.

How to Sign Up:
■Order online through our storefront at Etsy.com, which uses Paypal to process payments*
■Download our membership form;
■Email us at thimbleislandoysters@gmail.com or call 203-931-5912 to arrange payment and processing.
If you have any questions, email us at thimbleislandoysters@gmail.com. Thanks for supporting local ocean farmers!

* I understand that CSF members take the risks and reap the rewards of a working farm, and recognize that specific crop availability is depended on the unpredictable forces of nature. I agree that it is my responsibility to pick up my share each month at the selected distribution location “No refunds will be made.”