Eureka’s highly anticipated Fisher’s Market has an official opening date, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Madaket Plaza located on C Street in Eureka.
As noted in the Journal’s March 6 cover story (“There’s a Fish Market Splashing into Eureka”), this will be the first ever fisher’s market in the county, and to celebrate there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. with the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce.
Ashley Vellis, owner of Ashley’s Seafood, worked with the North Coast Growers Association to bring the idea to life after the city of Eureka’s plans to create a similar event in 2011 did not come to fruition. Vellis says the market will allow local residents to purchase fish directly from fishers without a middleman.
While people can also purchase fresh seafood off the docks on Woodley Island, local fishers say not many know about this opportunity. Vellis wants the market to allow people to build connections with local fishers, encouraging them to purchase not only at the market but also the docks.
There will be a variety of seafood available at the biweekly market in June, like Dungeness crab, sablefish, rockfish, lingcod, Pacific halibut, California halibuts, sanddabs and smelt. Vellis recommends bringing a cooler, bucket or an ice chest with ice packs to carry any fish or crab you purchase.
Customers can take their fresh fish to an onsite fillet station at the market to get them prepped how they prefer.
Like local farmers markets, the fisher’s market will also take EBT, which can be exchanged at the managers’ booth in return for tokens to purchase seafood. Vellis also says card readers will be available at most vendors.
Previously, Vellis told the Journal that the market will run until October, when boats need to prep for the crabbing season, but she says an official date for the market to close has yet to be decided.
This article appears in ‘God Looking Back at You’.