Fishermen Team Up With Food Banks To Help Hungry Families

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Fishermen sell freshly caught seafood at the Saturday Fishermen’s Market in Santa Barbara, Calif. When the pandemic began, fishermen watched their markets dry up overnight. Now, as well as public markets like this, some are selling to food assistance programs.





April Fulton for NPR



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April Fulton for NPR





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Joseph and Melissa Garrigan of Garrigan Seafood Co. show off a freshly caught spider crab and a California spiny lobster.





April Fulton for NPR



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Fisherman Paul Teall selects large sea snails called Kellet’s whelks for a customer at the Saturday Fishermen’s Market in Santa Barbara.





April Fulton for NPR



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Fisherman Paul Teall selects large sea snails called Kellet’s whelks for a customer at the Saturday Fishermen’s Market in Santa Barbara.


April Fulton for NPR

Joseph and Melissa Garrigan of Garrigan Seafood Co. say business has been better at the market lately, too. They sell giant spider crabs and California spiny lobsters among other things.

The pandemic has «actually been good for us. … [A] lot of people are coming out and going, ‘Wow, I didn’t know this [market] was here.’ And we feel like the community knows we’re here now, Joseph Garrigan says.

The fishermen recently put up plastic film barriers between themselves and customers, and there’s a cleaning and filleting station. Everyone at the market has to wear a face covering.

«We’re doing everything we can to keep the customers safe and provide them with fresh food, Teall says.

• fresh fish


• fishermen


• food bank


• nutrition programs


• food and nutrition