The Faces of California Fishing is a new initiative to promote the real stories and people behind California’s fishing communities. Consumers can support them and get great quality fish by eating safe, fresh local seafood.
One common thread binds all commercial fishermen, the spirit of independence. California fishing communities are struggling at this time to remain just that, fishing communities. Stringent regulations and the inability of the regulatory process and scientific analysis to consider the economics of family owned fishing businesses have made local supplies of seafood hard to come by.
Commercial fishermen are the first environmentalists. If they don’t take care of the ocean they will not make a living. It’s that simple. Many people just don’t understand how strongly commercial fishermen feel about protecting their environment while at the same time dealing with ever tightening regulations. A full 95% of California’s fishermen are small family-owned businesses, not the factory trawlers that are common in other countries. They don’t clear-cut a swath on the ocean floor. That form of fishing is outdated. In an ongoing effort to protect the environment, fishermen are constantly trying to implement new ways to fish that are productive and safe.
To support the commercial fishermen of this country, ask for a local product.
Lori, this is an excellent web site to explain to people exactly what these men, the salt of the earth, go through and their families. They are a tough ‘breed” of men, fishing for years or centuries and I know first hand the hard work they endure to make a living. I was an unknowledgeable woman who met and fell in love with a commercial fisherman 8 years ago and now first hand live hear and breathe it all. This season was a disaster and the govermnent’s mismanagement/or errors can destroy a man’s livelihood and is true hardship. I enjoy reading your website and feel that the majority of people are uneducated, unsophisticated about the industry and not informed on fishing or salmon- wild vs farm . Thank you for your support and bringing this to us and others. They are our heroes and as important to the nation as the farmers of the country. In a high tech world let’s not ever forget the true american worker’s who bring us the food we eat to sustain us every day!
By: Bonnie on August 18, 2008
at 2:44 pm