Interview Half Moon Bay

11.10.2014

Fish Notes: Half Moon Bay

Met with Jim Anderson Fishline app & Captain of the Allaine and Tom Mattusch Harbor Master

and Captain of the Huli Cat

Jim Anderson (650) 368-4740 allainehmb@gmail.com

Jim is associated with Fishline App in partnership with www.phondini.com  goal to provide a

platform to connect consumer and sustainability minded fishermen and fish.  Jim discussed

similar benefits of being able to see what fisherman have on stock/for sale to avoid traffic/travel

to obtain fresh fish and supporting local fishermen and community.   Jim is an advocate to the

education portion of the app (bio on fishermen, videos, etc).  Jim discussed that the app is

utilized by the local fishermen but the public is still learning about it and more uptake is needed.

Phondini company is doing the scaling with the app to several ports in the US and input from the

fishermen/also have a grant.

Half Moon Bay commercial fishing is seasonal.  There is no fish auction most of their catch is

sold to major distributors (Pacific Seafood https://www.pacseafood.com) with prices mostly

negotiated through a union/association.  Pacific Seafood have several boats under direct

contract/fleet.

Crab (starts November 15th) season is extremely crazy.  Jim discussed fishermen sabotage which

included cars being bombed and vessels being sunk.

Jim believes in technology in order to make things more efficient to help the local fishermen,

consumer, and the community.  He is willing to review our app and provide feedback,

partnership etc.

Tom Mattusch the Harbormaster at Pillar Point (650) 726-2926

Tom was also part of the design process of Fishline app.  He specifically deals with charter boats

and promoting the consumer actually catching the fish they are going to eat.  Has also embraced

technology to maximize efficiency and profit (several tech companies have him test various

devices/tools…he is even paid to be an internet hotspot on the seas).

Tom says most if not all commercial fish is sold to major distributors.  Most of the fishermen in

the bay are very savvy and have developed networks to ensure all their fish are sold.  Says some

to many of the fishermen don’t want to deal with public and would rather sell to the big

distributors.

He also went over the various licenses that are needed specifically in Half Moon Bay Pillar port

to sell fish off the boat.  I asked him why the local restaurants don’t buy from local fishermen his

answer was that they don’t want to deal with individual fishermen when they get good package

deals from major distributors to get any fish that the chef may want from all over the world.

Only the local Safeway has embraced buying local.

Tom is also willing to provide feedback on the app.