Officials in Sonoma County, California, U.S.A. are preparing to replace an aging bulk ice production facility at Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay Harbor with USD 2.8 million (EUR 2.5 million) in funding to support commercial fishers.
“The Icehouse is beyond its expected life, at risk of catastrophic failure, and reliant on outdated and climate-unfriendly technology,” California State Coastal Conservancy staff explained in recommending funding for the project earlier this year. “With volatile fisheries recently shortened or cancelled, a disruption in the ability to store and ship seafood products could be economically catastrophic to both the local fishing community and the broader regional economy.”
The current facility is also limited due to its dependence on R-22, an ozone depleting refrigerant that is being phased out under the 2020 Clean Air Act.
The bulk ice facility is the only ice provider of its kind between San Francisco and Fort Bragg, California, making it a critical support infrastructure for 250 commercial vessels, charter operators, and recreational fishers, according to Sonoma County. When the equipment breaks down, operators are forced to truck in ice for the commercial fishing industry.
“We’ve been walking on eggshells, because every single time we need a volume of ice for salmon or crab … we’re always concerned the ice house is going to break down,” Commercial fisher Dick Ogg told The Press Democrat. “It’s an aging facility.”
In addition to a USD 1.5 million (EUR 1.3 million) grant approved by the California State Coastal Conservancy, Sonoma County has also secured USD 1.2 million (EUR 1.1 million) in federal funding and USD 75,000 (EUR 66,883) from the California Air Resources Control Board’s F-Gas Reduction Incentive Program.
According to the Press Democrat, the project is expected to go out to bid and be completed next year.
