5. Current Issues Affecting the Port's Fisheries
- Port-at-a-Glance
- Location, History and Economy
- Port Governance and Infrastructure
- Fishing Profile: Commercial and Recreational Fisheries
- Current Issues Affecting the Port’s Fisheries
- Social and Environmental Vulnerability
Social, political, economic, and environmental events pose both immediate and ongoing challenges for the port’s fisheries and the impacts reverberate throughout the community.
Decrease in Shoreside Infrastructure
The increasing focus on coastal tourism and recreation is accompanied by greater limitations on infrastructure and space for commercial fishery-related activity. Exceptions include the long-standing fuel dock and the pending renovation of about 16 commercial fishing vessel slips as part of the Dana Point Harbor revitalization process. As at many other ports, however, amid growth in coastal land use and increasing property values, access to and availability of workspace and (dry as well as wet) storage space for commercial operations has become increasingly challenging.
Tariffs and Trade Wars
Under the Trump Administration (2016-2020), the US imposed or increased tariffs on imported goods to reduce the US trade deficit. The Trump Administration tariffs targeted important trade partners such as China, causing retaliation. In 2018-2019, a mounting trade war between China and the US-led six major ports on the West Coast to draft an open letter to President Trump, requesting he deescalate the trade war because of the impacts it was having on port communities. California is the US’s largest exporter to China of any state and saw a 30% decrease in exports — including steep declines in exports of crab and salmon — to China as a result of the trade war.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including markets and supply chains for many types of seafood-producing businesses closure/limited operation of tourist-serving businesses and restaurants. CPFVs likewise operated on a more limited basis than usual.