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.
Catch Share Program
Following the 2005 groundfish trawl vessel and permit buyback by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the implementation of catch shares in the federally managed fishery, trawl fishers, TNC staff and others established the Morro Bay Community Quota Fund (a “Community Fishing Association”) to keep quota share in the Morro Bay community. In 2014 the Quota Fund started leasing licenses and quota. Required observer coverage and other stipulations of the program have posed challenges to the Quota Fund and efforts to maintain infrastructure for other fisheries and the larger port community.
Increasing Ocean Uses
Amid growing interest in ocean renewable energy, seafloor lease sites have been proposed off the coast of Morro Bay. If and when such development occurs, it is likely to affect fishing and other port-related activities, with implications for the port and the fishing community.
Climate Change
With increasingly variable climate and weather conditions, the US Coast Guard periodically issues a temporary safety zone due to hazardous weather and sea conditions in the vicinity of the Morro Bay Harbor entrance, constraining vessel traffic to ensure public safety.
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.