New Hampshire Seafood Fresh and Local was created in November 2008, as an initiative to ensure the committee’s work resulted in more than just a report on the local fishing industry and the challenges it faces. It started with education and culminated with the first “Fishtival” last fall — an event that attracted an estimated 5,000 people to Prescott Park.
Erik Anderson, a committee member and head New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen’s Association, said that initially they just wanted to bring some recognition to the industry and the challenges it faces and see what type of response there would be. The main purpose of the initiative is to preserve and promote New Hampshire’s 400-year commercial fishing industry and educate the public on the industry’s impact on the economy, job creation, tourism, community population and demographic diversity.
Rich Pettigrew, owner of Seaport Fish, said that Seaport Fish is one of dozens of businesses supporting the initiative in a variety of ways. Restaurants that agree to a set of standards and guidelines are allowed to use the logo in their storefronts or menus or other marketing items.
It is reported that the campaign Fresh and Local logo brings a promise that the product was caught and processed in New Hampshire. The purpose is to teach people that purchasing local seafood not only gets them the freshest products, but it helps the community by keeping money local and local fisherman employed.
Anderson also said that they are still trying to bring more public awareness. They have the distinction of being a seaport, we have a fishing industry and a fishing community and we want to make sure the public is aware of the products available. Anderson said the group is very pleased with what it has accomplished in less than a year and plan to only increase their presence in the future.
