Head of American Tunaboat Association, Augie Felando battled foreign competition and environmentalists in an effort to keep once-thriving fishing community afloat
Fisherman, lawyer, lobbyist — Augie Felando spent his working years in and around the ocean, navigating waves both literal and figurative in support of San Diego’s embattled tuna industry.
As a teenager, he began fishing on family-owned sardine and tuna boats. This was during World War II, so he was told to keep an eye out for Japanese submarines while he was minding the lines. Times were hard for the tuna industry, and getting harder. A fleet of what had once been more than 200 boats was dwindling amid competition from lower-priced foreign catches. Canneries were closing and moving to countries where labor was cheaper.
Other challenges lingered. Dozens of American tuna boats were seized over the years in foreign waters. An undercover film documented the killing of dolphins in seine nets, and that let to public outcry, rule changes, and eventually “dolphin-safe” labels on tuna cans. Fishing treaties had to be negotiated and re-negotiated.
“He did a terrific job and was well thought of by people on all sides,” said Kenny Alameda, a longtime friend who worked in the tuna industry. “More than anything else, he was a gentleman who carried himself well, no matter the situation.”
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