Commercial fisherman David Anderson didn’t realize he was embarking on a potential career when he agreed to go along as a deckhand on a rockfish trip. They fished the nearshore for live rockfish, and Anderson was hooked. He loves his time spent on the water and that “it’s not a nine-to-five job.”
Since 1999, Anderson has been a part of the Morro Bay waterfront, working as a deckhand for various fishermen harvesting either live rockfish, sablefish or salmon. In addition, at times he operates the F/V Tyler’s Way, fishing the nearshore for rockfish and ling cod.
Like many young commercial fishermen, Anderson regrets that so many of the fisheries are now regulated through restricted access programs. In the past, a fisherman needed only to find a boat in which he was willing to risk going to sea; today one must also acquire expensive permits, many of which are only available if another fisherman is retiring.
Captain Anderson holds a 50-ton U.S. Coast Guard Master’s License, which he is working on upgrading to a 100-ton License. On occasion he has operated charter boats for the local sport launches, and is considering going to Alaska to do this type of work for a while, in order to save for his own fishing business.
Many thanks to Lori French, the original founder of Faces, for her previous work and continued efforts.
Funds for The Faces of California Fishing were provided by a grant from
Central California Joint Cable/Fisheries Liaison Committee.
Content copyright 2012. Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries. All rights reserved.
