Point Loma commercial fishing businesses and tenants at Driscoll’s Wharf launched a new Point Loma Commercial Fishing Alliance at an Oct. 13 press conference at the wharf, which included wine and lobster rolls.

The group formed as an effort to draw attention to the significant role commercial fishing plays as the “front door” to San Diego’s fishing industry. The alliance seeks to advocate and represent commercial fishing activities along the Point Loma working waterfront, known as America’s Cup Harbor and Shelter Island.

At the Oct. 13 event, speakers included Tom Driscoll, Tommy Gomes of the “Fishmonger” Netflix series, and a partner in TunaVille Market & Grocery, as well as Mitch Conniff of Mitch’s Seafood, along with Jimmy Silveira of Chula Seafood.

“As most of you know, we’re trying to save Driscoll’s Wharf,” said Tom Driscoll. “I want to keep this going. But more importantly, for commercial fishermen in this area, this facility is really needed for them. So, the commercial fishing alliance was formed.”

Mitch Conniff said October is one of his favorite times of the year, but not because of Halloween or pumpkin spice. “For me it means cruising Sunset Cliffs, seeing the lobster buoys and all the guys picking up their lobster catches,” he said noting that, 15 years ago, “almost every single one of those lobsters that was caught was loaded onto a truck that came down here from L.A., and was driven back up to L.A. and put on an airplane to China.”

Pointing out that “that never sat well with me,” Conniff added, “So I made it one of my personal missions to keep as many of those lobsters here locally, culminating this year where we’re literally selling a couple of thousand pounds every week. It’s been a dream come true to provide good, sustainable seafood for the local consumers.”

Conniff concluded the new alliance wants to “make sure this waterfront is available to the fishermen, to us in the fish processing, buying and selling business and all of our neighbors that are consumers.”

Third-generation Point Loman Silveira of Chula Seafood, a family-owned and operated business, pointed out they started with a commercial swordfishing boat that has been operating at Driscoll’s Wharf for almost six years. Noting his grandfather came over from Portugal to “fish the fleet here in the early 1940s, he added, “We’re sitting on a waterfront that there’s not much left of here in San Diego. And we’re just trying to bring awareness to the fish that you are eating, and the fishermen that do the hard, heavy lifting every single day. We want to see this stay, and grow and prosper.”

Chula Seafood processes and sends food out to local restaurants, said Silveira, noting their boat is out swordfishing six or seven months of the year.

Tommy Gomes talked about the rationale behind the formation of the new commercial fishing alliance. “At one time, up until 1985, San Diego was the tuna capital of the world,” he said. “Everybody was here. And now we don’t have any canneries left in the continental United States.”

Noting commercial fishermen nationwide are “losing their waterfront properties,” Gomes added, “Over 90% of the seafood that you consume in this country is imported. It’s so important for you to know your source when it comes to local seafood. Zero fish mileage (transportation costs) is what it’s all about. And it starts right here at Driscoll’s Wharf in Point Loma.”

Added Gomes: “I can honestly say, between Chula Seafood and Tunaville Market & Groceries, that we are now actively buying more local seafood than any company in San Diego. We can’t buy 30,000 pounds of tuna at one shop, but we are supporting more local commercial tuna fishermen in and around the city, these two small family-owned companies.”

Gomes added that fact should give people an idea of what local commercial fishermen are up against. “We’re losing the waterfront,” Gomes warned. “It’s extremely important that we get the public to understand that we’re not fighting for something that we don’t already have. We’re just trying to hold onto spots where we can tie up our boats and sell fish. The history and tradition need to be carried on to the next generation. We urge you to come down to the docks at Driscoll’s Wharf and meet the commercial fishermen that are supplying you with great quality seafood.”