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MOSS LANDING, Calif. -- Some fisheries on the Central Coast said they are in deep trouble because of new regulations put in place on how many fish can be caught in our deep waters.
With the start of the new year, fisheries in Moss Landing said there's another federal regulation not working in their favor. It's a sardine catch limit of about 66,000 metric tons, or about 73,000 tons. Some said they might as well go out of business.
Fisherman Roger Whitney said right now there are about 10-20 boats in the Moss Landing Harbor that fish daily, but that's nothing compared to before.
"Twenty-five years ago, there were probably 150 boats," Whitney said.
He said in the next decade or so, you probably won't see any in the harbor because of all of the regulations from the government.
"It hurts everybody. It hurts the fuel docks, the ice companies and obviously the docks here trying to keep their doors open," Whitney said.
He said he doesn't even think he can keep his business Bay Fresh Seafood afloat, even though he's been at it for more than 20 years. "If we stay on the road we are on now with regulations getting worse every year, I would say within five years you won't have anyone buying fish in Moss Landing," he said.
Central Coast News is still waiting to hear back from the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.
