When the tuna boat fleet left San Diego, not only did the boats leave but so did thousands of jobs. Like Campbell’s shipyard, the Tuna canneries, to the hundreds of little shops that worked on tuna boat related items. Such as fuel docks, supply stores, food, and even the little deli that use to supply the lunches for the crews. I personally remember driving down Shelter Island and taking my dads navigation sextant to the shop; Baker marine to get it serviced (yeah they didn’t always have computers, navigators really used to work) and right across the street was Mauricio and sons where the boats would bring there skiffs to get fixed. There were businesses like that all over San Diego. But back to the canaries, you had Van Camps and Bumble Bee , Westgate, starkest where each place employed around 3,000 people.
I could only guess at how many jobs Campbell’s and San Diego Marine shipyards employed due to the tuna boats. It’s safe to say San Diego lost thousands of jobs when the Tuna industry left San Diego. There were estimations of around 30,000 to 40,000 jobs. You didn’t need to be Portuguese or Italian to work in the industry, simply put if you were in San Diego in the 70’s or early 80’s somebody you knew worked in the industry. It is just a shame it’s gone. Below are photos of what our waterfront use to look like…
 |
| Cabrillo/ Top Wave |
hhhh.jpg) |
| Mermaid |
 |
| Gann Discoverer/ Jeannine |
Yes, I remember the good old days when the embarcadero would be full lengthwise and three boats deep…
Joe Souza also Portuguese/Peruvian Heritage.
Yes, What a shame it's all gone today. Just glad I was able to see some of what your talking about before the end. Tuna Fishing had such a positive economic effect on San Diego. Whats there today that can claim the same results for as long as this industry did…
I was one of the few Gringos every on the Gann Discoverer trip I made was 119 days, can't remember the skippers name, only took 1 trip. But I remember the Navigators name was Joey, and the Winch buy was Mario. We can in with 1900 tons, early cause we had a turbo go, then when we were in, the skipper backed into rocks, by the shell dock in the embarcadero, so we had to unload at van camps, then take the boat up to Long Beach for Dry Dock, I wish I could remember/find the Cheif and his assistante we were good friends, I also worked in the helicopter and speed boats. OH my what days they were, never ever in such good shape!
anyone know anyone from that trip in the 80's please let me know, [email protected]
I was one of the few Gringos every on the Gann Discoverer trip I made was 119 days, can't remember the skippers name, only took 1 trip. But I remember the Navigators name was Joey, and the Winch buy was Mario. We can in with 1900 tons, early cause we had a turbo go, then when we were in, the skipper backed into rocks, by the shell dock in the embarcadero, so we had to unload at van camps, then take the boat up to Long Beach for Dry Dock, I wish I could remember/find the Cheif and his assistante we were good friends, I also worked in the helicopter and speed boats. OH my what days they were, never ever in such good shape!
anyone know anyone from that trip in the 80's please let me know, [email protected]
The Cabrillo was my father's boat. wow. Thanks for having this blog. Brought back many great memories. jose arballo jr.
Winches may be wont to save lives by lifting concrete and metal beams off of a destroyed building when a disaster. they're conjointly enforced in pull vehicles to safety throughout a flood state of affairs, earthquake, or different styles of accident Click Here.