A group of local commercial fishermen hopes to create a weekly market at the Oceanside harbor where they could sell their catch directly to consumers.
The idea sprang up as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which closed sit-down restaurants everywhere. That greatly reduced the fishermen’s sales and left them looking for new outlets.
Some of them decided to cut out the middleman and try selling their products to people at the harbor. They set up their stands near the ticket kiosk used by the Helgren’s charter fishing business.
“It worked out pretty well,” said James Gardner, a fisherman and representative of the group, who outlined the plan at last week’s meeting of the city’s Harbor & Beaches Advisory Committee.
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Foot traffic increased when the harbor parking lots were closed. Also, Helgren’s and the other charter businesses were closed, so there was more space available. However, now that the parking lots and businesses have reopened, a more permanent place needs to be arranged for the market.
“It could be quite a draw for the harbor,” Gardner said. “The whole idea is to be neat, clean and efficient, and for them to sell some products, cut out the middle man.”
The proposal appealed to the committee members, who all lease boat slips or have other interests at the harbor.
“Fish markets have always been an attraction ... and it increases foot traffic,” said committee member Stephen Ford, a former commodore of the Oceanside Yacht Club.
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“I think this is a great idea,” said committee member Michael Coban.
Ideally, the market would be open Saturday mornings, maybe from 6 to 10 a.m., when there’s less competition for parking and most restaurants aren’t open yet, Gardner said.
Each participant would sell a different type of seafood, such as prawns, crabs, fish or lobster, so that an assortment would be available, he said. About four or five fisherman so far are committed to the idea, he said, and some of them already have experience from selling their catch at outdoor markets in San Diego or Orange County.
Fish markets elsewhere show Saturday is usually the busiest day for sales, and that increasing the number of days does not do much to boost the overall business.
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The idea is to have local fisherman selling a variety of locally caught products, he said. Seafood caught by boats not kept at the Oceanside harbor would only be brought in when local products are not available.
“There are logistics to be worked out,” Gardner said. “Other harbors have been doing this for quite some time.”
Among the issues to be decided is whether the market will be overseen by a board of directors, elected by the fishermen, that would establish rules and guidelines for the venture, he said.
The board could help determine which seafood products the vendors sell and see that they complement other businesses at the harbor. Gardner said he would make another presentation to the committee when more details of the plan are available.
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The Harbor Village has more than two dozen small shops, restaurants and other enterprises sprinkled around the marina.
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Fresh fish market proposed for Oceanside harbor - The San Diego Union-Tribune
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