The southernmost port in California, San Diego has been an important area for Tribal use of natural resources, home to the Kumeyaay people for thousands of years, and commercial and recreational use since the mid 19th century. Colonized by the Spanish in 1769, and incorporated as an American town in 1868, San Diego has been a major fishing port since the late 19th century.
Like many ports in southern California, San Diego’s commercial fishing industry began with the influx of diverse immigrant communities from China, Japan, Italy, and Portugal. Fishing has remained one of San Diego’s most important sectors both economically and culturally, although the fisheries on which it has been most dependent have shifted over time. The port was once known the “tuna capital of the world,” however, landings and value went into decline with changes in regulations and the processing sector. It also had a very active red sea urchin fishery, however, economic, regulatory and ecological factors have brought about declines in landings in the fishery.
Currently, important fisheries for the port include highly migratory species (primarily swordfish), California spiny lobster, and spot prawn. Swordfish has been an important commercial and recreational fishery in San Diego, however, in recent years the fishery has declined. The California spiny lobster fishery started in the late 1800s, and since 1975, San Diego has dominated the commercial fishery. When spot prawn trawlers were outlawed in 2003, the fishery shifted exclusively to traps and has continued to grow as a low-volume high-value fishery.
From 2003 to 2021, the number of fish business licenses active in San Diego has decreased by almost one-quarter. The number of commercial fishing licenses associated with the port has fluctuated over the years, but most recently decreased from 440 in 2020 to 327 in 2021 after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, commercial landings at the port of San Diego accounted for 2% of California’s total landings and 8% of California’s ex-vessel value.
By the Numbers
Commercial Fishing (2021)
| Total | Port Rank | Percent of State Total | Primary Fisheries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Weight |
3,709,563 lbs. | 10 of 82 | 2% | Coastal Pelagic Species, Highly Migratory Species, Opah |
 Value |
$16,673,966 | 4 of 82 | 8% | Coastal Pelagic Species, Highly Migratory Species, California Spiny Lobster |
 Vessels Homeported |
 Fishing Licenses |
 Fishing Businesses |
| 353 of 3,148 | 327 of 6,650 | 70 |
Recreational Fishing (2021)
| Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) |
State Total | Percent of State Total | Primary Fisheries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Trips |
10,948 | 35,046 | 31.2% | Rockfish, Yellowtail, Tuna, Ocean Whitefish, Bass, Dolphinfish |
 Vessels Homeported |
166 | 622 | 27% | |