“People Over Fish” policy leaves California fishermen out of work

Half Moon Bay, California – For years, William Smith, better known as “Capt. Smitty,” made his living taking eager anglers out onto the California coast, chasing the thrill of reeling in a prized King Salmon. But with salmon fishing shut down in the state for the past two years, Smith’s boat now serves a different purpose: hosting whale-watching tours and carrying out sea burials to stay afloat.

“The bills keep going, whether I’ve got a fishery or not,” Smith said. His business, Riptide Sportfishing, now conducts over 200 sea burials a year—an unexpected but necessary shift that’s helping him pay off his $250,000 boat engine. With growing Hindu and Buddhist communities in the Bay Area, demand for sea burials has surged, offering captains like Smith an alternative source of income.

The forced pivot comes as California’s commercial and sport fishing industries brace for yet another tough year. Salmon populations have declined dramatically, leading to consecutive years of fishing bans. A final decision on whether there will be a season in 2025 is expected in April, but the outlook remains grim. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has already signaled that fishing opportunities will be “very limited, if at all.”

Many in the fishing community blame state and federal water management policies, arguing that years of drought and decisions to divert water to large-scale agriculture and urban areas have left salmon struggling to survive. Salmon rely on cool, flowing water to migrate upstream and spawn. In recent years, changing water allocations and environmental shifts have made that journey increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has emphasized a “people over fish” approach, pushing for more water to be routed toward California’s Central Valley farms. Critics argue that this stance ignores the fact that fishing communities are also made up of people whose livelihoods are at risk.

“We are people that are hardworking, and it’s our jobs on the line,” said Sarah Bates, a commercial fishing captain in San Francisco. Bates and others have seen local seafood markets shrink without the usual influx of wild salmon, and Bay Area restaurants are less interested in alternatives like halibut or cod.

For some, the struggle has become too much. Jamie O’Neill, owner of Seattle-based Dock Street Brokers, says many California fishermen are leaving the industry altogether. The number of commercial salmon fishing permits has dropped from 1,200 in 2010 to fewer than 900 today, and their value has plummeted.

Charter boat operators, including Andy Guiliano of the Pacific Pearl in Emeryville, are diversifying by offering historic tours and other excursions. But he knows that for many anglers, salmon is irreplaceable.

“One is hamburger, and one is filet mignon,” he said. And right now, filet mignon is off the menu.