This presentation summarizes some of the market research conducted about whether a market for a community supported fishery could work in Williamsburg, VA. The research was conducted by a team of students, faculty, and staff. I presented these findings to the Williamsburg community in October 2013.

1. Williamsburg CSF
Recommendations from Research

2. What is a CSF?
A community supported fishery
(CSF) is the seafood version of
CSAs. Members pay upfront
for a regular delivery of
seafood throughout a season.

3. What makes a
successful CSF?
• Passionate CSF coordinator
• Partnerships and business
relationships
• Business planning

4. Research Overview
• 7 members of VA’s seafood
industry interviewed
• 29 CSFs interviewed and
surveyed
• 855 Williamsburg-area
residents interviewed and
surveyed

5. Opportunity
In the first year of operation, we
estimate that 554 households
would join a CSF.
• Paying grocery-store prices
• Bi-weekly delivery of 2lb of
fillets of common fish
• Most expect some level of
variety week-to-week

6. Top Three Motivators
1. Customers want fresh, quality
seafood;
2. They want to support local
community and businesses;
3. They want to support
environmental responsibility.

7. Challenges
(CSF point of view)
• Business management, staffing
• Membership growth, retention

8. Challenges
(customer point of
view)
• Price concerns

9. Challenges
(customer point of
view)
• Inconvenience of delivery
time, day, location

10. Challenges
(industry point of
view)
• Seafood processing

11. Research Team
• Virginia Sea Grant
• W&M Mason School of
Business
• W&M School of Law
• VIMS Green Team
• W&M Student Environmental
Action Coalition

12. Thank you!
Questions about the research?
Janet Krenn
Virginia Sea Grant
krenn@vims.edu
804-684-7362