Port Orford Sustainable Seafood

Aaron Longton started fishing when he was eight years old and has been a full-time commercial fisherman since 2000. Because of low prices from fish buyers, rising fuel prices, and increasing regulations, Aaron was faced with some tough decisions; either get out of the commercial fishing industry or figure out a way to increase his profit margin. At the time, Aaron thought that cutting out the middle man would be a great way to accomplish this. He has since learned that he assumed the responsibility of the middle man. Like any journey, Aaron appreciates the professional growth gained from this process. The ability to understand each aspect of the commercial fishing industry allows Port Orford Sustainable Seafood (POSS) to provide Oregon's highest quality fish. Aaron started POSS in 2009 by selling seafood in the Rouge Valley from an ice chest out of the back of his truck. Since this time, POSS has expanded to include Oregon's first Community Supported Fishery (CSF). A CSF is based on the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model that has been around for decades. The first CSF was started in the Fall of 2007 in Port Clyde, Maine. Since then, several CSFs have been popping up around the country. A CSF connects fish lovers directly to local fishermen. Members of the CSF commit to an agreed upon season (in our case four months), during which they receive regular "shares" of fresh seafood. When you enroll in our community supported fishery, you are able to purchase a share of the harvest from an independent, small boat family of fishermen who fish the Pacific Waters of Southern Oregon. We have two types of shares a full-share and a half-share. Each season lasts four months and we have three seasons per year. A POSS Share entitles you to a share of each species that is in season. The shares will be available for pickup at the drop site that you sign up for. You also get access to many of the perks of being a CSF member special sales, newsletters, recipes, BBQ's, salmon bakes, cooking classes, and fishermen events. It is our desire to build a two-way relationship with you the consumer. POSS then contracts with one of our day boat fishermen. They catch your fish from the Pacific one hook at a time. Careful to employ best practices in handling and processing methods, almost unheard of on large factory boats and corporate owned fish farms, our fish are processed with 24 hours of landing. Your fish are brought to Gold Beach or Port Orford where they are filleted and cut into portions of approximately one pound (give or take an ounce or two). Next, they are individually vacuum-sealed and blast-frozen to 30 below before making their way to you. As a team, we make our part of the food system more healthy and sustainable as we commit ourselves to not externalize the environment and social costs of bringing fresh fish directly to your table. Together we pay our fishermen a fairer wage. Less stress on the fish and fishermen is accomplished by getting more money for less catch. Fishermen participating in CSFs can improve their profit while fishing less and allowing the fisheries to repopulate.