Hon. Connie Chan, Hon. Rafael Mandelman, Hon. Myrna Melgar
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Budget & Finance Committee
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Re: REJECT Term Sheet for Pier 45 and Seawall Lots 300/301
Dear Supervisors Chan, Mandelman, and Melgar:
On behalf of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA), a group representing thousands of commercial and sport salmon fishermen and related businesses, we express our strong opposition to the proposed Pier 45 and Seawall Lots 300/301 development project by Fisherman’s Wharf Revitalized LLC. This project, as outlined in the current Term Sheet, threatens the livelihoods of San Francisco’s fishing families and the vital economic and cultural contributions of the local commercial fishing industry.
Pier 45 is indispensable for fishing businesses, which provide millions of pounds of locally and sustainable caught seafood annually. These businesses not only support the San Francisco economy, but are a cornerstone of tourism at Fisherman’s Wharf, drawing visitors from around the world. Furthermore, and often forgotten, is the fact that the City’s commercial fishing industry is comprised of strong environmental stewards who are responsible for preserving our invaluable Bay ecosystem – a system that will suffer greatly if fishing businesses are pushed out of Fisherman’s Wharf.
The commercial salmon fishing industry, a key part of San Francisco’s historic fishing sector, has already been severely impacted by the closure of the state’s salmon seasons since 2023. Studies, including a 2012 analysis by Southwick Associates, demonstrate the immense economic potential of a robust and well-managed salmon fishing industry—capable of generating $1.17 billion in economic impact and supporting 21,480 commercial fishing jobs annually. If salmon populations were restored to historic levels, the economic impact could exceed $5.6 billion and 94,000 jobs each year. The current proposal not only fails to address these challenges but exacerbates them, jeopardizing the long-term viability of the fishing industry and San Francisco’s identity.
The Term Sheet prioritizes the development of an event center and museum over the critical infrastructure needed to sustain and grow the fishing fleet. Simply put, the plan lacks actionable measures to ensure the industry’s future – instead opting for ambiguous assurances about maintaining fishing activity.
To create a balanced and inclusive development plan, it is imperative to:
- Include representatives of the Pier 45 commercial fishing fleet in negotiations. To date, these stakeholders have been excluded from meaningful discussions, despite their central role in the area’s economy and culture.
- Develop a detailed plan for mitigating displacement during construction. Any plan under consideration must address protected storage and workspace, transportation of fishing gear and equipment, and accessible loading facilities. Specific locations compatible with the fishing industry’s needs should be identified.
- Accurately calculate and protect current fishing industry “storage” use. This includes communal workspaces, traffic lanes, gear staging areas, and other shared spaces essential for daily operations.
- Ensure existing and future fishing businesses retain the right to sell seafood directly to the public.
- Promote locally, sustainably caught seafood by requiring all seafood products sold at Pier 45 be provided by Pier 45 vendors.
The development of Pier 45 should strengthen the working waterfront and prioritize the needs of the fishing industry. It is crucial that any project moving forward incorporates meaningful input from all stakeholders and safeguards the long-term sustainability of San Francisco’s fishing community.
I urge you to reject the current proposal in its present form and advocate for a development plan that respects and supports the fishing community at Pier 45.
Sincerely,
Scott Artis
Executive Director