Catchbox is a community supported fishery, buying fresh responsibly caught fish direct from a local fisher. Our aim is to encourage our members to think differently about fish; try new varieties and support their local fishers. Our fish is responsibly caught, a fair price for our members and fishers.
We have hubs in Chichester, Emsworth, Worthing & Brighton. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are run solely by volunteers in our spare time.
The Brighton & Chichester branches launched last spring with a 12 week season, however, as Catchbox was initially set up by a third party (Seaweb) as a defra-funded pilot, no resources were actually put into taking it beyond that initial stage.
Our members and, in particular, the Emsworth fisher Pete Williams, have put a lot of hard work into making Catchbox work, and we are particularly proud to have got both Chichester & Emsworth Catchbox off the ground this year.
The Emsworth season started 24th April and lasts for 12 weeks. So far we have had an amazing response, the members are great and its a real education morning at the hub. Its great to hear what recipies people created with their box and also to see the photos they send me.
You can join mid season, as pick up started on 7th June. We shall start a second 12 week season shortly after the first season, it may start directly after just depends if the boat needs to be brought ashore for any maintenance or what fish are coming into the Solent.
We are at the Emsworth Community Centre, from 9.30am to 11.30am, currently fortnightly but from mid season weekly from 7th June.
Those wishing to join sign up via our website, paying for their season of fish in advance (1kg or 2kg, weekly or fortnightly, £6 per kg regardless of fish species). The fish is then delivered to a collection hub to be picked up by our members at a specific time each week/fortnight. Members buy a share of a fishers catch so although we can't predict what we will get, our mixed fish coastal waters and skilled fisher generally means we get a good variety of fish throughout the season.
Catchbox is a win-win for both consumers and fishers. We get to try a wondrous array of delicious just-caught fish at an extremely affordable price and the fisher gets a much needed period of guaranteed, stable income.
The feedback we've had from our members is incredibly positive, not just for access to responsibly caught fish but the whole shared community/fishy adventure experience. It's really great to be involved with something that is so positive.
We hope you can see the positive benefits Catchbox brings to your community.