The company announced the relocation through social media on July 30, confirming that it will soon begin moving into a new home. Although Catalina Offshore has not publicly identified the destination, sources familiar with the move tell SanDiegoVille the company is expected to relocate to 1842 McKinley Avenue in National City, the longtime home of sister wholesale distributor San Diego Seafood. Catalina Offshore has not confirmed the address, and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"The rumors are true - Catalina Offshore is moving, and we couldn't be more excited to share the news with you, our valued customers," the company wrote. "While we're downsizing our footprint, it will be business as usual - our retail market will remain open and fully stocked with the same great seafood you've come to expect."
Catalina Offshore currently operates from 5202 Lovelock Street in San Diego's Morena District, where it houses its retail market, wholesale operations and distribution facilities. The company has not disclosed whether the move will affect staffing, wholesale capacity, online fulfillment or retail operations during the transition.
If the reported relocation proves accurate, the move would bring Catalina Offshore under the same roof as San Diego Seafood, one of Southern California's largest wholesale seafood distributors. The connection is significant because the two companies have shared ownership since late 2023, when Catalina Offshore was acquired by Beish Holdings, the ownership group behind San Diego Seafood.
The National City property has long served as San Diego Seafood's commercial processing and distribution center but has not operated as a public retail market. Catalina Offshore's move would effectively consolidate operations while preserving the company's consumer-facing fish market under the Catalina Offshore brand.
Catalina Offshore framed the decision as an effort to create a more sustainable business rather than retreat from the San Diego market. The company acknowledged the challenges facing the seafood industry but said the move is intended to position the business for long-term success.
"As many of you know, the seafood industry has faced significant changes in recent years—but that hasn't stopped us from looking forward," the company said. "That's exactly why we're making big moves like this: to continue delivering the quality product you count on, for years to come."
The downsizing follows other operational adjustments made in recent years. Earlier this year, Catalina Offshore temporarily suspended its nationwide seafood shipping program, citing rising fuel, transportation and operating costs, while continuing to operate its San Diego fish market.
Founded in 1977 by pioneering sea urchin diver Dave Rudie, Catalina Offshore began as a small operation selling locally harvested uni before growing into one of the nation's most respected suppliers of sushi-grade seafood. Over nearly five decades, the company expanded into wholesale distribution, online sales and a walk-in retail market while supplying many of Southern California's top restaurants, sushi bars and chefs.
Rudie retired in 2023 after selling the company to Beish Holdings, a woman- and minority-owned company founded by longtime fishmongers Kathy and Dave Strangman, their children Brittany and Tanner Strangman, and cattle rancher Jose Chacon. The acquisition united Catalina Offshore with San Diego Seafood, a business the Strangman family had spent decades building into one of the region's leading wholesale seafood distributors.
The reported move to National City would represent another step in integrating the two operations while allowing Catalina Offshore to continue operating under the brand and reputation it has built over nearly 50 years. It would also bring the company closer to the seafood processing and distribution infrastructure already maintained by its current owners.
For customers, Catalina Offshore emphasized that little is expected to change beyond the location itself. The company says its retail market will remain open, fully stocked and continue serving the same high-quality seafood that has made it a destination for professional chefs, sushi enthusiasts and home cooks alike.
Catalina Offshore has not yet announced a final day of business at its Morena District location, whether the retail market will temporarily close during the move, or when it expects to begin operating from its new facility. The company said additional details will be released as the late September transition approaches.
Catalina Offshore Products currently remains open at 5202 Lovelock Street in San Diego's Morena District. If confirmed, the company is expected to relocate in late September to 1842 McKinley Avenue in National City. For more information, visit catalinaop.com.
Originally published on August 4, 2026.
