“Ghost fishing” is not just a term. It is a haunting reality reflected in this very sculpture. We are standing before the Ghost Fish Sculpture. It is a poignant reminder of San Pedro’s fishing past.
This monumental artwork is more than just a pretty piece. It’s a 40-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture. The Ghost Fish Sculpture takes the shape of a massive bluefin tuna. It is suspended from a galvanized steel frame on 50-foot pilings.
Carl Cheng, the artist behind this piece, first conceived the idea in 2007. As a high school student, he would paint watercolors along Berth 73. The Ghost Fish Sculpture serves as an homage to San Pedro’s once-thriving tuna industry. The large tuna catches during the 1930s inspired this artwork. San Pedro and Terminal Island commercial fishermen made the large tuna catches.
Look closely at the mesh-net frame. It’s filled with local fishing artifacts. Area anglers and members of the commercial fishing industry donated these artifacts. You can see hooks, fishing reels, buoys, and ropes hanging inside the fish. A mound of discarded nautical equipment rests at the bottom in the fish’s head.
The local artifacts within the Ghost Fish Sculpture speak to the historical significance of the fishing industry. It highlights San Pedro’s connection to the industry then and now. The sculpture also features a solar-powered video camera in the fish’s eye. It displays each onlooker’s image inside the fish on a video screen.
While the Ghost Fish Sculpture harkens back to the glory days of the area’s fishing past, it also addresses current problems plaguing today’s fishing industry. Ghost fishing is a term used by the Food and Agriculture Organization. It describes lost or abandoned fishing gear that continues to catch fish. This practice is environmentally detrimental. The fish caught is ultimately wasted.
The Ghost Fish Sculpture marks the completion of the new 1.5-acre Southern Pacific Slip landscaped plaza. It sits near the intersection of Sampson Way and Berth 73. The Port of Los Angeles commissioned Cheng for this piece. It is part of the San Pedro Waterfront Redevelopment Plan. The plan aims to redevelop the waterfront property around Los Angeles Harbor’s entire main channel. The port is working to create a public art piece at each new development site. Ghost Fish 107 is one of the largest.
The plaza also features 22 large wooden benches. Local San Pedro artist and woodworker Harold Greene created them. Inspired by historic photos of the San Pedro waterfront in 1910, Greene used sustainable plantation teak from Costa Rica. He constructed “Narrow Timber,” “Modular,” and “Crate” bench designs for the project. These benches enhance the area around the Ghost Fish Sculpture.
So, as you gaze upon this monumental fish, remember it’s not just art. It is a symbol of history, a warning about our present and a call to protect our future. The Ghost Fish Sculpture stands as a lasting reminder of our connection to the sea.