Meet the Fleet
Schedule for 2026: April, June, October and November
The Meet the Fleet event brings together local chefs and fishermen with an informative presentation and tasting that will be sure to deepen your appreciation of local seafood. Each event is unique with guest fishermen and chefs sharing their knowledge and recipes of the local catch. Events are planned for April, June, October and November – check back for updated details and dates.
Meet the Fleet – Wednesday, June 17
Join us with our host and sponsor, Nauset Marine, at their beautiful marina in East Orleans. Learn about the Cape’s lobster fishery from Captain Chris Townsend and experience the fresh local catch! Enjoy mingling, beer from our sponsor Devil’s Purse Brewing Co., and a tasting of a delicious lobster recipe prepared by Chef Tyler Hadfield, Owner/Operator of The Rail, The Barley Neck and Polka Dot Panini.
Event Details
- Date & Time: Wednesday, June 17 from 5 – 7 p.m.
- Tickets: $25 per person
- Location: Nauset Marine East, 235 Main Street, East Orleans (across from The Barley Neck)
- Note: This is an outdoor event that takes place next to the marina, please dress accordingly. There are no seats provided, if you would like to sit, please bring a lawn chair.
All ticket sales directly support our mission. Please note that tickets are non-refundable.
Meet the Fleet Recap – April 1, 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Meet the Fleet of the year! We are grateful to fishermen John Soposki and Jake Angelo for teaching us about the conch fishery. Thank you to Chef Jeni Wheeler, Executive Director of the Family Table Collaborative for sharing her inspiring mission to end hunger and improve nutritional security on Cape Cod, and for the delicious Conch Ceviche and Coconut Curry Conch tastings. We also extend our thanks to our generous sponsors: Chatham Bars Inn for the appetizers and Devil’s Purse for the beer.
2025 Meet the Fleet Recap
November 2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a sold out event! We extend our sincere thanks to shellfishermen Clint Austin, founder of Pirate Shellfish, for teaching us about oyster farming and bringing all the interesting props. Thank you to Chef Garrett Smythe of The Wicked Oyster for sharing his chef story and for the delicious oysters with pickled onion mignonette – view recipe here. We are also grateful to our sponsors: Chatham Bars Inn for the appetizers and Devil’s Purse Brewing Co. for the beer.
October 2025
It was a full house for Meet the Fleet and we are most grateful to Caity Townsend for sharing her inspiring work recycling fishing gear with Net Your Problem, along with her wide-ranging experiences in commercial fishing from Cape Cod to Alaska. We also extend our thanks to sponsors Chatham Bars Inn for the appetizers, Devil’s Purse Brewing Co. for the beer, and Chef Pete Allard from The Chatham Squire for the delicious Coconut Lobster Ceviche Tostada tasting.
June 2025
It was another great Meet the Fleet in June! We are grateful to our sponsor Nauset Marine for hosting the event at their scenic marina and to Captain Phil Michaud for sharing his knowledge of the squid fishery. Thank you to Chef Lisa Whelan of Dancing Spoons Food Truck & Catering for the amazing sweet and spicy squid over rice noodles, we will post the recipe on our website soon. You can also explore several inspiring recipes on our webpage here and watch this video where Melissa Sanderson demonstrates how to prep fresh squid.
April 2025
A big thanks to Steve Gennodie of Chatham Pier Fish Market for the inside scoop on the workings of the fish market, and to Chef Eric Bolduc for the delicious ahi tuna tacos. Guests learned about the intriguing world of kelp harvesting and products from the Chatham Kelp team – Jamie Bassett, Richard Curtiss and Carl Douglass. We are grateful for sponsors Hog Island Beer Co. for the unique Chatham Kelp Stout and to Chatham Bars Inn for the tasty apps. Thank you to Cape Cod Saltworks for the sea salt samples.
For more information about these events, please contact Jenn Allard.
Please Take Note
Individuals with disabilities who need a special accommodation to participate in a Fishermen’s Alliance program, service, or activity, should call the ADA/504 Coordinator Melissa Sanderson at (508) 945-2432 x103 or the Massachusetts Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-439-2370 at least two working days in advance.
Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, interpreters, assistive listening devices, accessible seating or documentation in an alternate format.
Thank you to our 2026 Meet the Fleet partners:
