Many California fishermen are nearing retirement. Can the industry save its graying fleet?

California’s commercial fishing sector is confronting a shrinking workforce and shrinking pay as many captains near retirement, complicating the industry’s ability to sustain locally caught seafood. The challenge is highlighted through yellowtail fishing near La Jolla, where crews face unpredictability tied to catch variability, regulations, and broader economic pressures. UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography launched a fishing apprenticeship to train new fishermen in techniques, rules, and safety, with some graduates advancing careers while gaps remain that can deter newcomers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data show median annual crew pay fell about one-third from $90,468 in 2014 to $61,592 in 2024, while captains’ earnings dropped from $173,271 to $108,972. Despite the state’s tuna legacy, the county now has about 130 local commercial fishermen, and the article notes that most seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported.