Federal fishery disaster declaration requested to aid the albacore fishing industry

Written by Manola Secaira/CapRadio

Published: 02 January 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom has requested a federal fishery disaster declaration to aid the albacore fishing industry.

State officials say California’s albacore fishery declined 71% in volume and 65% in value last year. If approved, the declaration would allow Congress to appropriate funds for disaster assistance.

Michelle Horeczko is the Supervisor of the state’s Pelagic Fisheries and Ecosystem Program, which is part of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

“The reason why disaster relief funds are being requested has to do with this unique set of circumstances with and El Nino impacting that the specific Northwest where a lot of the fishery takes place impacting, the availability of the fish in conjunction with poor market conditions,” Horeczko said.

She describes albacore as a migratory species sensitive to temperature changes. With an El Nino weather pattern in 2023, that meant warmer waters. She says albacore dispersed themselves differently as a result and were more difficult to catch.

“They’re dispersed differently,” Horeczko said. “They go deeper or they go, you know, they’re, they’re not in areas where they’re easily caught.”