The Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, led by Shelley Edmundson, is hard at work preserving both the cultural and ecological legacy of the Island’s fishing industry. Through an upcoming local seafood cookbook, compelling photography, and interviews with Vineyard fishermen, the Trust is educating the community on how to source and prepare local fish—keeping tradition alive while building a stronger local food system. Meanwhile, the Trust’s successful black seabass fishcakes project has already sold over 5,800 packages, helping to create new markets for underutilized species and ensure fair pricing for fishermen.
This year, the Trust is taking a major step toward expanding its impact. In partnership with the owners of Menemsha Market, the Trust plans to move its operations to the former Poole’s Fish lot on Basin Road in Menemsha. This iconic waterfront location will soon be home to a new hub for local seafood—providing space for cold storage, fish processing, and the sale of both fresh catch and value-added seafood products. Pending permitting, the new market could open as early as 2026. For the Trust, the move marks a return to Menemsha’s fishing roots and a critical opportunity to improve infrastructure and visibility for Island fishermen.
The Trust is also involved in regional fisheries research, collaborating with Rhode Island and Connecticut partners on projects that include data collection, reducing bycatch, and analyzing whelk populations. These efforts are helping to inform sustainable practices while supporting fishermen with stipends and shared knowledge. As climate pressures grow, the Trust’s focus on food security and seafood innovation is a crucial part of building resilience on the Island.
At its core, the MV Fishermen’s Preservation Trust embodies The Vineyard Way—honoring local culture, protecting marine habitats, and fostering community partnerships. From winter fish shares at farmers markets to collaborations with restaurants like the Outermost Inn, which prioritizes locally caught fish, the Trust is showing how collaboration and innovation can protect Island life for generations to come.
This work directly supports Climate Action Plan (CAP) Food Security Goal #1: By 2040, food grown on the Island is harvested and produced in a way that strengthens biodiversity and makes food more abundant over time, and the majority of food consumed on the Island is grown in the Northeastern US.
