Londoners are to get access to fresh fish direct from boats through a box scheme set up by the founder of Catchbox, the UK’s first ‘catch-share’ purchasing scheme.
SoleShare is a private enterprise created by Jack Clarke - who ran the Catchbox trials in Brighton and Chichester this year and used to work for NGO Seaweb - and fellow director Theresa Douthwright, who founded London pop-up oyster bar The Mother Shuckers.
It would offer Londoners “fresh fish with full traceability” and enable consumers to support “a responsible way of fishing,” Clarke said. The fish sold through SoleShare will be sourced from Martin Fuller, who fishes off Newhaven, with supply supplemented by other Newhaven fishermen.
To buy through SoleShare, consumers commit to buying a fixed amount of fish weekly or fortnightly, which they pick up at a collection point in Hackney. The first collection took place on 26 September, with 30 customers signed up as The Grocer went to press.
Prices differ depending on volumes bought - for example, 1kg of fish picked up once a week over 10 weeks comes in at £140, and includes a place on a knife skills and filleting course.
Clarke said he hoped to create a number of different collection points across London when SoleShare runs for a second season next spring.
This month, Catchbox started its second season in Brighton and it launches a scheme in Worthing next month.
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