Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

San Diego has had a strong commercial fishery for over a century and was even considered the “tuna capital of the world” during the mid-1900s due to the booming albacore tuna fishery. Restaurants along the waterways advertise fresh, local seafood to the locals and 32 million tourists that annually visit San Diego when in reality, nearly all the seafood being served comes from all over the world and was caught days or months earlier. In this information age, it is time for better communication between all the parties involved from the fisheries to the restaurants and stores to the consumer. To facilitate this communication, it is first necessary to gather information about San Diego’s fishery including identifying the major players and how they do, or do not, communicate with one another. This project collected information through surveys and numerous personal interviews. It was revealed that San Diego faces many challenges in creating a Community Supported Fishery after the model that others have used but may be successful with alternative models.