This is the Local Fish Project
Connecting San Diego to local seafood, local fishermen, and the working waterfront.
Why We Need Local Fish
San Diego has a rich fishing history, a skilled fleet of independent fishermen, and access to incredible local seafood. But much of that story is still disconnected from the people who live, eat, shop, and dine here.
Local Fish exists to close that gap.
We are building tools, resources, and relationships that make it easier to understand local seafood, support local fishermen, and keep more value within our coastal community.
80%
of the seafood consumed in the US is imported from foreign countries. Let’s work together to get seafood from our backyard on local plates!
14%
of San Diego restaurants consistently serve San Diego-sourced seafood. There are over 150 commercial fishermen ready to feed San Diego!
8%
of San Diego seafood markets consistently carry San Diego-sourced seafood. There’s a vibrant fishing community eager to get fish on your plates!
Meet the
Fishermen (& Women)
Develop a deeper understanding of what it takes to harvest seafood responsibly in San Diego. Learn about the fishermen and women working on the water, the species they catch, the gear they use, and the traditions they are carrying forward.
Local Fish highlights the people behind the local seafood system, from multi-generational fishing families to next-generation fishermen building resilient, water-based livelihoods.
Meet the
Chefs
We work with chefs, restaurants, and seafood buyers who care about quality, seasonality, transparency, and local foodways. These relationships help bridge the gap between the dock and the dining room.
By supporting chefs who champion local seafood, we help more people experience the value of San Diego-caught fish and the fishermen behind it.
Meet the
Seafood
Discover what is local, seasonal, and worth asking for.
San Diego’s local seafood story goes far beyond tuna and halibut. From rock crab and spot prawn to box crab, whelk, swordfish, lobster, and other seasonal species, there is so much to discover.
Learning what is local, when it is available, and how it is harvested is one of the first steps toward building a stronger local seafood economy.
Dive Deeper
Working Waterfront Resources
Coming soon.
Local Fish is expanding its work to support the broader working waterfront, including commercial fishermen, small-boat captains, open access fishermen, chefs, educators, and community partners.
This next chapter will include resources, stories, and programming that help create more year-round opportunity for fishermen while connecting the public to San Diego’s fishing culture in a deeper way.
Local Rock Crab Okonomiyaki
This traditional Osaka-style savory pancake is often made with seafood and pork. In this version, we feature locally caught rock crab. Topped with a savory sauce and umami-rich bonito flakes, it can make a satisfying meal that works just as well for a weeknight dinner as it does for casual entertaining. Serves 4–6 as an
Read Moreabout Local Rock Crab Okonomiyaki
