Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
In 1900, the first two fish canning plants, H. R. Robbins and Frank Booth's Cannery, were
opened in the area known as Monterey's wharf. Then in 1903, Booth bought Robbins and
started the sardine canning industry in Monterey. Sardine canning plants multiplied in number
in the next few decades in the area known today as “Cannery Row.” This rapid expansion of
the industry ended abruptly in the 1950s when the sardine industry completely collapsed
because the fish were virtually gone (Historic Monterey, n.d.).
The most likely cause of decline was overfishing, but it was later found that a natural
boom-and-bust cycle caused by small changes in water temperature in the Pacific Ocean sig-
nificantly affect the population of sardines (Cascorbi, 2004). Behavioral issues of sardines
have also been also cited as a contributing factor of the decline of the sardine population
(Glantz and Thompson, 1981).
Regardless the real causes of the decline in the sardine population, it is important to note
the collapse of Monterey's industry was fueled in part by lack of knowledge but more signifi-
cantly by the assumption that natural resources were unlimited and would last forever. At
those times there was a strong belief that “oceans were inexhaustibles and that man could not
affect the species at sea” (Glantz and Thompson, 1981, p. 113).
Even though the drop of sardine catches that wiped out the industry in 1950 was somewhat
sudden, there were signs of decline after the amount of fish landed peaked in the 1941-1942
season. However, these signs were not taken seriously enough by the sardine fishing industry,
whose attitude—not only in Monterey but on the whole Pacific Coast of California—was to
buy time when state regulators tried to enact laws to protect the resource. To make matters
worse, federal scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service challenged the story of
state scientists, who represented the California Department of Fish and Game, on what was the
cause of decline of the Pacific sardine. According to state scientists the reason was overfishing.
Federal scientists noted other reasons, and the industry sustained that there was not enough
data to make any definite conclusions. (Glantz and Thompson provide excellent discussions on
the collapse of California's sardine industry and other fishing industries.)
Today the sardines are back in California's Pacific Coast waters, and their harvesting is
strictly regulated. However, what was left of the famous Monterey's canning industry—its
buildings—have been transformed into restaurants and shops and home to the dazzling
Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Picture 1.1 Today's look of Cannery Row in Monterey, CA. Courtesy of National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
Photographer A. E. Theberge.
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