In the spirit of Seattle's Pike Place and San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, San Diego has finalized plans to establish it's own weekly, outdoor fisherman's market. Tuna Harbor Dockside Market will open for business on Tuna Harbor Pier (between USS Midway and Seaport Village) beginning on Saturday, August 2 from 8am to 1pm. There, fishermen will sell fresh caught seasonal fish at the first local public fish market in decades in what was once considered one of the biggest fishing cities in the world.
Zack Roach Jr., along with fellow fisherman, Luke Halmay, San Diego Port Chairman Bob Nelson and San Diego Supervisor Greg Cox announced the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market at a press conference this past Wednesday. The market comes after more than a year of work to get the necessary permits from the city. The fishermen had previously been selling from a boat docked at the harbor, but wanted to move the market to land, so they formed Tuna Harbor Dockside Market last summer but ran into administrative hurdles.
San Diego was once known as the tuna fishing capitol of the world, but the city has since lost its place in the industry. In 1986, estimations state that there were close to 300 commercial fishermen in San Diego, but now, that number has diminished to around 130.
A one-year permit has been issued for the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market to operate. Be sure to check out the outdoor fisherman's market at 535 Harbor Lane in downtown San Diego every Saturday starting August 2 from 8am-1pm.
