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About Shellfish Broker CSA

Shellfish Broker is a HACCP certified seafood wholesaler based in South Chatham, Massachusetts. We work with local harvesters to provide fresh, traceable, affordable shellfish. Our offerings reflect the changing ocean and include classic New England shellfish such as oysters, mussels and clams as well as newcomers such as the invasive green crab.

Oyster CSA: In March of 2021, we launched a three-month Community Supported Aquaculture Program with locally-grown oysters. Each monthly share features 3 rotating oyster varieties (a dozen each) from local oyster farmers in Massachusetts. You can either sign up for a single month or a 3 month season; however, those who sign up for a 3 month season will also receive 6 free mystery oysters every month. If a few dozen oysters aren’t enough, you also have the option to add bulk bags of specific oyster varieties at wholesale prices to any share.

For our CSA, we offer free, direct delivery to homes in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline Massachusetts as well as pickup at our South Chatham location. Deliveries and pickup are available on the second Saturday of each month and all orders are minimally packaged in 95% biodegradable and recyclable packaging. This CSA runs April-May-June.


Location Options
  • Community Supported Fishery/Seafood Box
Purchasing Options
  • Subscription
Delivery Options
  • In-Person Pick-Up
  • Local Delivery
Ownership
  • Fishing-Family

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Seafood Offered

American lobster, Hard clams, Mussels, Oysters, Scallops, Whelks, Green Crab, Jonah Crab, Cockles

6

Locations

25

Number of Fishermen Sourced From

4

Years in Business

The value statements outlined below aim to create a higher level of accountability and trust, both internally within the network and externally to the public, in order to advance the movement of Community Supported Fisheries (CSF) and like-minded community-based seafood operations.

  • Community-Based Fisheries
  • Fair Access
  • Fair Price
  • Eating with the Ecosystem
  • Traceable and Simple Supply Chains
  • Catch and Handle with Honor
  • Community and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management
  • Honoring the Ocean
  • Creativity and Collaboration

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Transportation:
Our CSA shares are delivered directly from Chatham, Massachusetts in a refrigerated truck. By scheduling deliveries on a single day to a set radius, we have a very small transportation footprint. We work exclusively with local oyster growers in Massachusetts and utilize GPS logistics software to accurately and efficiently plan our route from Chatham to Boston.

Packaging:
Since our CSA is delivered directly from Cape Cod in a refrigerated truck, we’re able to reduce our packaging to simple recyclable takeout boxes held together by biodegradable twine. You won’t find any pamphlets or print-outs included with your CSA box, instead, we’ve opted for digital oyster guides and resources.

Restorative Aquaculture
Did you know that oyster farming is great for marine environments and is considered a form of restorative aquaculture? Oysters are filter feeders and don’t require extra feed. By filter-feeding, oysters help “clean up” coastal environments by filtering water and reducing nutrient pollution. Oyster farming also provides local fish with habitat and helps seed and support local oyster populations. By working with small oyster farmers across Massachusetts, we’re helping support the restorative aquaculture movement.

Traceability
Each of the oysters in our CSA can be traced back to the farmer. Buying directly from farmers to package our CSA keeps our supply chain simple. Our monthly oyster guide reviews what makes each specific farm unique and discusses how the ecology of each farm location shapes each unique oyster.

Oyster Shells
After you’re finished eating your delicious local oysters, you’ll be left with quite a few shells. Oyster shells are incredible for composting or using in your garden, providing plants with calcium and nutrients for growth. Oyster shells can also be used to deter slugs and other garden pests. For information on how to locally compost or utilized your leftover oyster shells, see our guide at www.shellfishbroker.com.

Future CSFs
If our oyster CSA is successful, we hope to replicate this model with other local seafood such as invasive green crabs, steamer clams, and other sustainable shellfish. Stay tuned!