Photo: Hugues Evano (IFREMER, Délégation océan Indien (DOI), Département Ressources Bio / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
When the albacore show up off Oregon in late summer, some Newport boats sell their catch straight from the dock. Signs go up along the Bayfront and in the marinas, and buyers line up with coolers.
A short season
Albacore follow warm water, and when it moves close enough to the coast, boats can reach them on short trips. The season usually runs from about July into September or October, depending on conditions.
How the sales work
Boats that sell direct need the right licenses, and buyers usually get whole fish. Many people have them cut into loins on the spot or take them home for canning, a summer ritual in many Oregon households.
Why it matters
Direct sales can earn fishermen a better price than selling to a processor, especially in a slow market. For buyers, it is a chance to get fresh tuna and meet the people who caught it.
Marnie Holcomb is the editor and publisher of Oregon Coast Daily News and covers Lincoln County government and community life.
