FAQ's

What is a CSF?

A Community Supported Fishery (CSF) is an alternative business model for selling fresh, locally sourced seafood. CSF programs, modeled after increasingly popular Community Supported Agriculture programs, offers members shares offers seafood for a pre-paid membership fee. When you buy fish from a CSF, you are buying directly from the fisherman that caught the fish.  

Fresh or frozen?

Our salmon is vacuum sealed and then flash frozen in airtight packages. Flash freezing, also known as “blast freezing” occurs very quickly. This process locks in all the flavors, juices, and benefits of fresh fish, allowing them to keep perfectly for long periods.  Fresher than fresh, really. The salmon even retain their red color and firm texture.  

Flash freezing requires us to use technologically advanced, extremely low temperature freezers (± -40° Fahrenheit) for each piece just as soon as it is vacuum packed, maintaining the flavor, texture, and goodness of each day’s catch.  This ensures that there is no degradation at all in the quality of the share you receive.  When the fish freezes this quickly, no ice crystals form to affect the tissue, preserving the fish naturally.

Flash freezing has been proven to the very best way to preserve the shelf life of our wild & sustainably caught Alaskan salmon. This process ensures a much longer shelf (freezer) life, and relegates artificial preservatives to being a thing of the past.  And the flavor, aroma, and nutritional benefits you enjoy are exactly as they were when it was caught, even if you live thousands of miles away.

What are the nutritional benefits of wild salmon?

Sockeye is considered a superfood and is a great way to get essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and protein while also helping to promote heart health. Salmon is also rich in vitamins and minerals like iron and vitamin B12, as well as other important nutrients such as selenium, phosphorus, and zinc. Eating salmon can also help reduce inflammation, support brain health, and improve overall skin health.

How is it packaged?

Our fish is all flash frozen and vacuum sealed upon delivery/pick up. Each fillet is roughly 1/2 to 3/4 lb each.

How much freezer space will it take?

Each fillet is 1/2 lb - 3/4 lb each. You will get roughly 8-12 pieces for a 10 lbs share and roughly 18-22 pieces for a 20 lb share. Both a 10 lb or 20 lb share will fit easily in a standard kitchen freezer with room for additional food and items. 

Where do we pick up our fish? Do you deliver?

We offer both pick up and delivery options! 

• Delivery:
• We offer delivery to your home once the fish is down in Portland. You can choose from a one time delivery in September or to split up your delivery and receive half your order in September and the other half in February. 

• Monthly pick up:
• For those who do not have the freezer space, we also offer monthly pick up options. You can choose from 3 lb pick ups every month or every other month. Our pick up location is in NE Portland and SW Portland.

How long will it last in the freezer?

The salmon will last great in your freezer for 1 to 1.5 years. After that, it will most likely still be great to eat although you may experience freezer burn.

How should I thaw my fish?

We recommend putting your salmon in your fridge the day before you cook  to slow thaw it.

Does your salmon have pin bones?

Our fish is as natural as it can be, which means that we do everything by hand and in small batches to keep the quality of the fish A+. We are also proud to say that the time between catching the fish, filleting, vacuum packing, and freezing is an impressive 12 hours.

Removing pin bones is an industrial process done by machines in huge quantities. Before the fish can be deboned, it must stay out for 36-48 hours after being caught in order for the muscles to relax. It is then put in a large machine which debones the salmon. This clearly affects the quality and freshness.