Embarcadero Could See “Fishermen’s Market” Plan
May 2,2014
There is news on the Morro Bay waterfront. After years of talk here the US Coast Guard appears ready to pitch the City Council on a location for an additional administrative office they’ve been wanting, about 2 lots south of their existing two-story headquarters.
Also on the Embarcadero,you shop for the freshest produce at a farmers market regularly, right? Why not shop for fish the same way – direct from the fisherman and right off the boat?
Regarding the building, testimony in Washington in front of a congressional committee by USCG Commandant Admiral Robert Papp Jr early in April cited funding earmarked for”construction of a new maintenance and engineering building at Coast Guard Station Morro Bay, CA.”
Morro Bay Harbor Director Eric Endersby says the Coast Guard needs a commitment for a site to move forward soon or the money for a 2 story, 5000sf building, could be spent elsewhere.
“My understanding is that they need a site identified this spring” for moving forward to permitting stage with hopes to break ground early next year.
Endersby says the City and the Coast Guard have been talking about this for a long time.”My estimate is at least 15 years.” While some want the waterfront reserved for more tourist activity, Endersby adds that the city “is very supportive of expansion of the station here” noting the critical role they play in harbor safety. Recent complications in the search for a site is the city Harbor office right next door – but the city has no money to build a new office, he says. Dynegy closing next door has been another factor but Endersby says the power plant owner does not want to give up on use of the Intake building to the north of the Coast Guard building, suggesting some future use.
Endersby says the proposal to purchase the land and begin the environmental approvals for the new structure replacing the existing harbor restroom and adjacent lot north of Carousel Taffy – will now be heard by the City Council May 13.
Off The Boat
Regarding the “Off the Boat” fish sales,that matter was heard by the Harbor Advisory Board May 1.
A staff report says in the past several Morro Bay commercial fishermen have expressed the desire for a centralized location where direct to the public “off the boat” sales would be allowed and encouraged. As it stands today, a fisherman’s only option in Morro Bay for this popular sales method is to conduct it from their assigned slip. Since this is not often scheduled nor done in one consistent location, public participation can be limited and in some cases even be discouraged due to its lack of consistency.
“With the advent of the “FishLine” seafood “app” and other internet-based real-time advertising opportunities, interest in the possibility of a centralized and organized direct to the public fish sales dock or other location is renewed, and in combination may create the synergy for such a dock to be widely utilized and successful.”
The idea is expected to be forwarded to the city council for consideration soon.
More Cold Storage?
Another project – additional cold storage at the dock,has been the subject a recent study. The Morro Bay Fishing Community Sustainability Plan suggests the local fishing industry, based here, could benefit.
“Increased access to refrigeration and freezers will allow fishermen to hold fish for longer periods, giving them the advantage of coordinating with market demand, pricing, and distribution logistics as well as for storing bait and baited gear. A site, demand and financial feasibility analysis for cold storage and freezer alternatives is recommended. Once a physical site is chosen and a preferred alternative is identified, the commercial fishing industry should work with the City to identify appropriate grants and loan to entitle the site and attract a developer to implement the project.”