By Speaker Toni G. Atkins It is no secret that San Diego is home to some fresh, delicious seafood. From fish tacos to fine dining, San Diegans have made seafood a healthful staple on their dinner plates. And now, to supplement your frequent trips to the Brigantine, Puesto, and other local seafood eateries, my “Pacific to Plate” legislation will make it easier for you to bring home locally caught and cleaned seafood directly from San Diego fishermen. “Pacific to Plate” was inspired in part by the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. This open-air market was established as part of the county’s health and wellness initiative Live Well San Diego, in partnership with local fisherman and the Port of San Diego. The market provides many benefits to our community. It allows San Diegans the opportunity to support our local economy; currently the market averages 350 visitors a week who are spending about $15,000 on fresh seafood. The fish market is also an ecological boon; it connects market-goers with fishermen who practice sustainable fishing. These fishermen can offer great advice about cooking the day’s catch and educate shoppers about the environmental benefits of eating underused local seafood species. Most of all, it provides a variety of delicious, fresh caught fish, lobster and sea urchin to locals. While Tuna Harbor Market has been a success, it still faces some technical obstacles in state law. My Pacific to Plate bill will help keep red tape from tangling up San Diego’s Blue Economy. While the Pacific to Plate bill makes several technical amendments to state law, there are three key changes the bill will accomplish:
•It allows fishermen’s markets to operate as food facilities.
•It allows fresh fish to be cleaned for direct sale at fishermen’s markets.
•And it streamlines the permitting process, so commercial fishermen can organize under a single permit — just like certified farmers’ markets.
Having passed the Assembly Health Committee unanimously, I have high hopes that Assembly Bill 226 will pave the way for more local fisherman to create new fresh-air markets up and down California’s coast. And seafood enthusiasts from Imperial Beach to Solana Beach might soon be selecting their evening meal while enjoying the beautiful San Diego waterfront.