Chapter 4 Economic Performance
4.1 Overview
In 2019, Port of Santa Barbara commercial fishers landed 2.6 million pounds of seafood valued at $10.8 million. Out of all California Ports, the Pors of Santa Barbara had the 5th highest ex-vessel value, 12th in pounds landed. Most notably, Port of Santa Barbara had the highest average price per pound at $4.15 per pound.
| Port | Millions of Dollars | Millions of Pounds | $USD/lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent City, CA | $22.30 | 8.4 | $2.65 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $15.40 | 23.8 | $0.65 |
| Eureka, CA | $14.30 | 10.9 | $1.31 |
| Port Hueneme-Oxnard-Ventura, CA | $13.40 | 11.5 | $1.17 |
| San Francisco Area, CA | $12.40 | 3.8 | $3.26 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $10.80 | 2.6 | $4.15 |
| San Diego, CA | $10.10 | 3.2 | $3.16 |
| Princeton-Half Moon Bay, CA | $9.80 | 4.9 | $2.00 |
| Bodega Bay, CA | $9.40 | 2.8 | $3.36 |
| Fort Bragg, CA | $6.40 | 4.1 | $1.56 |
| Moss Landing, CA | $5.40 | 18.2 | $0.30 |
| Morro Bay, CA | $3.90 | 1.1 | $3.55 |
| Monterey, CA | $2.60 | 8.3 | $0.31 |
4.1.1 Fleet Trends
Commercial Fishing Vessels
Count of vessels yearly landing in Santa Barbara Harbor has been the lowest it has been in 10 years.
| Year | Distinct Count of Vessels |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 156 |
| 2011 | 175 |
| 2012 | 193 |
| 2013 | 190 |
| 2014 | 201 |
| 2015 | 201 |
| 2016 | 201 |
| 2017 | 185 |
| 2018 | 203 |
| 2019 | 184 |
| 2020 | 153 |
Commercial Fishing Licenses
Number of commercial fishing licenses registered yearly for municipalities in the Santa Barbara area has not changed significantly since 2010.
| Year | Count of Fishing License |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 286 |
| 2011 | 312 |
| 2012 | 308 |
| 2013 | 332 |
| 2014 | 333 |
| 2015 | 344 |
| 2016 | 323 |
| 2017 | 342 |
| 2018 | 318 |
| 2019 | 324 |
| 2020 | 322 |
This section addresses the economic activity generated by the commercial fishing fleet in Port of Santa Barbara from 2010 to 2019 with a more detailed focus on 2019. Key metrics include exvessel value (EVV) or the amount that fishermen earn at the dock, landings by weight, and price per pound.
4.2 Overall Earnings
Earnings at the dock in Santa Barbara were nearly $11 million ($10,902,234) in 2019.
- Average (2010-2019): $12.7 million per year
- Highest value (2015): $15.26 million
- Lowest value (2010): $9.89 million
Figure 4.1: Source: CDFW
4.3 Overall Landings
In 2019, commercial fishers landed more than 2.64 million pounds (1198 metric tons) of seafood at Santa Barbara Harbor
- Average (2010-2019): 5.32 million pounds
- Highest poundage (2012): 6.71 million pounds
- Lowest poundage (2019): 2.64 million pounds
Figure 4.2: Source: CDFW
4.4 Price Per Pound
In Port of Santa Barbara, price per pound for all commercial landings has been on a strong and steady rise since the early 2010. The average price per pound in 2019 was $4.13, an increase of xxx% from $1.72 in 2010. The increase can be attributed to the increased landings of high-value, low-volume species like Prawns and Spiny Lobsters.
- Average Price/lb (2010-2019): $2.61 /lb
- Highest Price/lb (2019): $4.13 /lb
- Lowest Price/lb (2010): $1.72 /lb
Figure 4.3: Source: CDFW