Changes with Urchin Boat Docks at the Santa Barbara Harbor May Open Slots
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The popular urchin boating industry has had the opportunity to dock in a close location at the Santa Barbara harbor, but that is possibly changing.
A multi-year agreement expired last year but it was extended for another 12 months while the deal was reviewed.
The city says in a report, "since 1987, the north end of the Cabrillo Landing dock area of the Santa Barbara Harbor has been operated by the California Sea Urchin Commission (CSUC), Santa Barbara Chapter, to berth nine commercial fishing vessels under a license agreement with the Waterfront Department. The latest license agreement expired on August 31, 2024, and it is currently in holdover status."
The Santa Barbara Waterfront Department is now allowing those fishing vessels to stay if the owners enter into a commercial fishing vessel docking agreement like the other boaters in the harbor.
If not, and if they allow their spot to be vacated, the city can allow another commercial fishing vessel in that location under the standard agreement.
The proposal went before the Santa Barbara Ordinance Committee recently and it will get some fine tuning before it goes to the full City Council for a discussion and vote.
If passed, extensive messaging will be going out to the fishing communities that would have an interest in this site and as they open up, one of the nine slips as commercial fishing slips, to be governed under the Commercial Fishing Policy as Slip Permits.
The urchin fishing industry in Santa Barbara is known throughout the world. "Santa Barbara urchins are recognized globally as super high quality. We have really phenomenal grounds at San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa Island," said Chris Voss, the President of the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara.
As far as any significant changes going forward, nothing is expected. Voss said, "the current fleet will will continue to fish out of this space, and these are now nine dedicated commercial slips that are added to the existing 45 that we have."
Picking a new commercial vessel if a slip opens will be done randomly.
Waterfront Business Manager Cesar Barios told the Ordinance Committee, "if we have new additions today and a new addition in three months from now, the chances will be the same because it will be a lottery so longevity in the process won't affect the outcome."
The logistics involved in the slips and where they are located has Voss pointing out, "not all of them are of are of the same quality and characteristics. There's some real low value slips here."
The Santa Barbara urchins are in local restaurants but also sought after by chefs many miles away. You can buy them whole or buy a sample Saturday morning's at the Fisherman's Market on the harbor pier from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The council will vote on the slip agreement changes Tuesday at Santa Barbara City Hall.
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