Oregon Ocean Cluster
get involved
The Oregon Ocean Cluster brings together policymakers, impact investors, funders, producers, nonprofits, researchers, creatives, and community organizers to accelerate solutions that advance policy and investment for sustainable blue food systems, and unlock actionable pathways toward a resilient, equitable food future.
The future starts now—and you’re part of it.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
For individuals:
Eat local seafood: Shop locally! Ask your local grocery store meat counter if they have anything fresh from Oregon, or find places near you that sell local seafood.
Explore the Oregon Seafood Trail: From dock to plate, Oregon’s newest food trail puts the people behind the catch at the center of every meal. The Oregon Coast Seafood Trail highlights where you can enjoy Oregon-landed seafood that directly supports local fisheries.
Use your vote: Lobby your legislators to support laws that invest in the local seafood economy and 100% fish innovation. Sign up for the newsletter for action alerts.
Strengthen enforcement of anti-trafficking laws: Lobby your legislators to support stronger enforcement of anti-trafficking laws for overseas violations. Potential measures could provide greater transparency, increased resources, and new enforcement approaches. Learn more.
For Retailers:
Local catch special: Research indicates the restaurant consumers will eat the special 30-40% of the time, regardless of the dish. Incentivize the consumption of local seafood species by always offering a “Local Catch Special”. This also supports consumption of seasonally-appropriate foods.
Highlight your sale of local seafood and consider certifications, such as the Labor Safe Screening, to ensure your customers that you don’t sell products causing slavery.
For Organizations & Investors:
100% Fish: Support businesses exploring value-added approaches for utilizing the entire fish product, such as repurposing fish skins for dog treats, bone meal crab bait, and other traditionally disposed byproduct as compost . Learn more about 100% Fish here.
Hybridize coastal transportation: Food systems heavily rely on transportation infrastructure to get product from harvest to processing and retail. Engage with efforts to hybridize coastal transportation infrastructure, such as construction of charging stations.
Support 'greening of the fleet': Provide funding and incentives to support monitoring of environmental impacts and shifts to greener technology. For example, provide an incentive for fishing boats to track and report their fuel usage.
Local catch special: Research indicates the restaurant consumers will eat the special 30-40% of the time, regardless of the dish. Incentivize the consumption of local seafood species by always offering a “Local Catch Special”. This also supports consumption of seasonally-appropriate foods
Engage Community Institutions: Expand access to high-quality, local seafood by creating direct pathways from boat to schools, hospitals, and other food-serving community institutions.
Double SNAP for Seafood: There are several programs doubling SNAP benefits for healthy food products. Expand this successful program to local seafood to make it more accessible and affordable for all.
Invest in enforcement technology: New innovations in remote monitoring and seafood tracing can provide transparency and allow for more discretion in purchasing seafood products. Use this data to better understand the issue, and invest in expansion of these technologies.
Partner with Human Rights Organizations: Join existing efforts or create new partnerships to support human rights in the seafood industry. Some existing organizations include Liberty Asia and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.
Promote Seafood as Healthy Protein: Seafood is renowned for its health benefits, particularly through its high level of Omega-3 fatty acids. In particular, promote certain species such as black cod and pink shrimp.
Support tribal food sovereignty: Several Tribal nations have consumed local seafood for time immemorial, with vast cultural, spiritual, and health benefits. Provide funding and support to enhance Tribal access to their traditional seafood species.