Eating with the Ecosystem is a small nonprofit with a unique mission: to promote a place-based approach to sustaining New England's wild seafood.

 By fusing together the ecological knowledge of marine scientists and commercial fishermen, the creativity of the region’s most innovative chefs, the know-how of seafood businesses, and the enthusiasm of local seafood lovers, we advance a New England seafood system that supports the region’s marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

Our work is tethered to Five Anchors.

Click on the buttons below to learn about each ecosystem-based principle

Our programming includes a combination of educational events, citizen science research, supply chain facilitation, and public awareness-raising through print, web, and signage.

We overcome the limits of our small size by engaging in extensive collaborations, working with members of all parts of the local seafood supply chain and bridging the gap between ecosystem scientists and food systems thinkers to integrate a place-based approach to sustaining wild seafood into New England food system planning.

Click on the buttons below to learn how we work with each grouP

What’s new

new! collaborative project to build climate-resilient seafood supply chains

While species shifts are going to impact the future of fisheries in New England from boat to plate, many businesses are in the dark about how to adapt. Eating with the Ecosystem has plans to change that.

Throughout 2024, EWTE, in collaboration with NE seafood businesses, policy makers, and other supporting organizations, will create a roadmap to taking necessary action on climate-ready seafood. Our focus is on barriers and opportunities for ‘climate winners’- species who either buffer the impacts of climate change (think seaweed and bivalves!) or are expected to expand their range or abundance in New England and throughout the U.S. The plan will take shape across several collaborative sessions.

Our first event is a webinar with the Local Catch Network (January 23rd at 1 pm EST) where we will present conclusions from our research and hear from other businesses on their adaptive strategies and barriers to accessing new, sustainable species. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to learn and shape our roadmap! Sign up for the event below.

tickets now on sale! 9th annual community seafood dinner

What: It’s our favorite event of the year! Join Eating with the Ecosystem for a fabulous seafood extravaganza. Spearheaded by one of Eating with the Ecosystem's founding board members and lifelong Pt. Judith Fisherman, Rodman Sykes, each dinner acts as a fundraiser for Eating with the Ecosystem and welcomes attendees for a multi-course meal that relies on a broad network of volunteers and donor fishermen to catch, prepare, and serve what has been caught THAT week - focusing specifically on less well known and underutilized species.

Come celebrate our local, seasonal, seafood bounty! Bring some friends, and make some new ones! Proceeds from the event benefit Eating with the Ecosystem's ongoing work towards a place-based approach to sustaining New England's wild seafood! 

Cash bar, fabulous raffle prizes, and great company. Tickets will sell fast, so get yours soon!

When: Sat, Feb 3rd 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Where: 60 Belmont Ave, Wakefield, RI, 02879, USA

Tickets: $40 per person

Increasing Local Seafood Access

Eating with the Ecosystem has partnered with the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council to start a seafood donation program in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The program includes two pathways: whole fish donations and prepared meals. For the whole fish donations, representatives from different community groups throughout Rhode Island meet us in Point Judith to pick up their fish and bring it back to their communities to be distributed. The prepared meals turn local seafood into meals such as fish stew or fish cakes that that can be packaged and frozen and distributed through food pantries.

If you or your community is in need of seafood donations, please contact us by sending and email to kate@eatingwiththeecosystem.org.