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I worked from 1977 to 1980 caring for all the electronics on 180 tuna boats + base stations in San Diego. The dolphin restrictions and poor catches eventually drove the fleet in the direction of New Zealand. Some of my co-workers followed the boats. I went off to Pacific Telephone. The optimum size of the family operated tuna seiner was about 400 tons. The optimal size for a commercially owned boat was about 1200 tons. Experiments with 2200 tons boats found that the first fish caught was rotting before the boat could be filled. Most of the 2200 ton boats mysteriously sunk. It was a difficult business as the ability to pay the bills due on electronics purchases, repair and installation was subject to the success of the boat catching tuna. Doing a first rate job on the electronics was crucial. If a seiner had to return to port because of an electronics failure, you could easily lose the boat's business. It's a small market. You can afford to screw up.

It's good to hear they are more successful this year.

I spent my child hood boating out of San Pedro with my dad this was the late 60 s and 70 s loved to see all the fishing boats tones of them. now just a handful so sad

My uncle operated out of San Diego until the late 40s but moved to Costa Rico and really cleaned up.

San Diego to South America and back was a long trip.

Short trips, through the Canal to Van Camps and when the Pacific quota was up fished the African coast and the canery trip was about the same distance.