Locally caught sand dabs for sale at TunaVille Market and Grocery.
California SeaGrant estimates that less than 8% of San Diego food retailers and 14% of restaurants offer locally caught seafood.

It’s elusive at most major food retailers, but fresh catch from San Diego’s local fishing fleets is available if you know where to shop.

Benefits of buying local seafood

• Quality—because freshness means better taste

• The supply chain is shorter and so is the carbon footprint

• Targeting sustainable species prevents overfishing

• Traceability and transparency

• Supports the local economy

Blue terms

Bluewashing—similar to greenwashing but in this case overmarketing businesses’ social responsibilities or commitments to ocean pollution

Blue Foods—a movement that encourages eating more seafood to address global challenges surrounding health and the environment

» bluefood.earth

Where to shop for Local Catch

CATALINA OFFSHORE PRODUCTS

Cut-to-order local and premium seafood makes this shop a seafood lover’s dream destination.

» catalinaop.com

HAWAIIAN FRESH SEAFOOD

Armed with its own fleet of fishing vessels, Hawaiian Fresh Seafood works closely with government agencies to maintain sustainable practices at sea. Plus, they make delectable poke bowls that are well worth waiting in line for.

» hawaiianfreshseafood.com

NICO’S FISH MARKET

If you’re looking for hook-and-line caught fish, Nico’s buys fish whole from local fishermen and breaks them down for hungry buyers. Follow @nicosfishmarket on Instagram to catch them at a pop-up with partnering businesses like GOODONYA Organic Eatery or sign up for the Fish List to receive email announcements of fish availability.

» nicosfishmarket.com

SARASPE SEAFOODS

The Saraspe family has been fishing off the San Diego coast for three generations. Spot prawns are their specialty as is selling directly to consumers. Sign up for their email list to be notified when fresh seafood is available and make it a priority to test all the recipes on their website.

» saraspeseafoods.com

TUNA HARBOR DOCKSIDE MARKET

This popular open-air market still attracts a crowd every Saturday morning and it’s the ideal way to kick off any weekend. Pro Dockside shoppers show up bright and early, rolling coolers filled with ice for a seafood haul. Make sure to leave room in your plans for piping hot Dockside fish ‘n’ chips to munch on for breakfast.

» thdocksidemarket.com

TUNAVILLE MARKET AND GROCERY

This little seafood shop has been making waves in Point Loma since it opened in the summer of 2022. A list of daily fresh catch tells you what fishing vessel the fish was caught on—and the tinned fish selection is curated by Tommy Gomes, the Fishmonger himself. (Read Follow That Fish).

» tunavillemarketandgrocery.com

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About the Contributor
Maria Hesse
Edible San Diego's executive editor is a personal chef and lifestyle designer, podcaster on Modern Casserole, amateur pug photographer, grant writer for Media Arts Center San Diego, and co-author of The Intentionalist Cooks. Find her on Instagram @mariafromediblesd.
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