The tuna fleet has no choice as fuel cost isn't subsidized by our government like other governments do for their fishing fleet. I remember when I was a kid living in San Diego, the tuna fleet being gutted and almost disappeared from San Diego because Mexico wouldn't let the SD tuna fleet go into Mexican waters and almost 3/4 of the tuna fleet left San Diego. The tuna fleet hasn't recovered and is about to lost 1/2 of the remaining fleet.
Covid has hit them hard to this year but it was a great BF, YF and dorado season.
During the “Great Recession” the tuna fleet was hit harder than it is now.
With a 10 year absence now of much albacore it’s a big part of the equation. The timeframe you’re referring to, we could count on (took for granted), practically set your watch/calendar for limits of albacore in late June into July and then as waters got warmer the yellowfin. Such is not the case anymore.
Yes the boats/owners have to put that surcharge on to keep their boats...
CA fuel costs/taxes get passed onto customers in all kinds of recreational activities unfortunately.