To Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
Local fishermen will be in the water next Monday, January 11, to bring a delicious, sweet Dungeness crab to the tables over the weekend, after San Francisco fishing boat owners and the Seafood Marketing Association reached an agreement to start this activity safely.
According to the Half Moon Bay Seafood Marketing Association (HMBSMA), it took an extraordinary level of communication and unity among a diverse fleet to wait so long to fish, self-regulate a start date and pre-soak under a "gentlemen's agreement", to resume activities.
Agreement for a safe start process was reached among fishermen in Bodega Bay, San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Vallejo, Santa Cruz, Moss Landing and Monterey in late December to mitigate uncertainty and provide a safer start for the entire fleet.
When a price was agreed upon last Friday, January 8, the process was also enacted in the agreement and this resulted in the established time, which was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. this Monday and a carry time of 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 13.
The need for this agreement was to reduce the damage and dangers that can follow what fishermen call "shotgun starts", a scenario in which a price agreement and a start of fishing in another region is the equivalent of a gunshot in a race.
The result is that local boats loaded with gear are forced to scatter and rush to sea just an hour ahead, in sometimes dangerous conditions, but by 2021 this scenario has been avoided and is expected to be a new precedent for the future.
So this weekend fishermen are making last-minute preparations with soul before Monday's schedule, while companies, markets and coastal communities supporting the fleet are preparing to be ready when they begin transporting equipment on Wednesday and bringing crabs to market.
"We appreciate the support and love of the public for Dungeness crab and are happy to get down to work bringing in delicious, high quality local crabs to enjoy next week.
HMBSMA Seafood Marketing Association
