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The DCTF is a legislatively-mandated advisory body that reviews and evaluates Dungeness crab fishery management measures and provides recommendations to the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (Legislature), CDFW, and the Fish and Game Commission, and they are holding an Executive Committee meeting July1st, which is open to the public.

Meeting information can be found HERE.

The CA Fish & Game Commission (FGC) Marine Resource Committee (MRC) Meeting will be held July 16th (remote option available). Topics include White Seabass and Coonstripe Shrimp Fishery Management, Kelp Restoration and Management Plan (KRMP) Development

The June 12-17 PFMC meeting was full of important information and updates. For the full details, check out their decision summary document, but here are some highlights for our region: 

• Council adopted their final preferred alternative (FPA) for 2027-28 groundfish harvest specifications, including widow rockfish, a suite of management measures designed to attain Council harvest objectives, an FMP amendment, and recommended two EFPs for implementation by NMFS.
• Groundfish in-season management changes:

Council adopted GMT Option 2 in season adjustments to increase sablefish (Table 1) and reduce vermilion/sunset rockfishes trip limits (Table 2) in the limited entry (LE) and open access (OA) fisheries as shown below

At its June meeting, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) reinforced California's commitment to a sustainable blue economy by adopting the state's first Marine Aquaculture Action Plan and advancing research to better understand the impacts of offshore wind on marine ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities. The Council also approved more than $13.8 million for coastal resilience, biodiversity, plastic pollution reduction, and sustainable fisheries projects. These actions are particularly relevant to Monterey Bay, where aquaculture planning, offshore wind, and science-based ocean management continue to shape the future of the region's fishing industry.

The California Fish and Game Commission met in June, and there were several interesting items, including a petition that could influence the halibut fishery: Petition 2026-03: Request to increase the California halibut recreational fishing bag limit north of Point Sur to three fish; and for the commercial fishery, establish a limit on the total number of “open access” permits and establish a seasonal quota 

This petition was denied by the FGC b/c CA halibut management is being considered as part of an MSE by the CDFW.

The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) is a free workshop series designed by a team of west coast fishermen and industry leaders for fishermen who seek to engage effectively in fisheries management and science. It is facilitated and managed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, which ensures the program remains neutral and focused on education and empowerment of fishermen across sectors, gear types and vessel size, and geographic regions. 

The next West Coast Fisheries Science and Management Workshop will be held: December 7-11, 2026 in La Jolla, CA

If you are someone who works in the fishing industry in and around Monterey Bay and are interested in applying to this workshop, you may be able to receive a scholarship from MBFT. Reach out to Emily at ehess@mbfishtrust.org to inquire.

In case you missed it, last month the West Business Development Center offered free social media marketing lessons for local food providers:

"Your food deserves an audience. Farmers, food businesses, cooperatives, and food systems organizations learn from a real campaign case study about audience-building, content planning, and storytelling that connects communities with the people growing and producing their food."

If you were unable to attend that session, the recording is still available!

Fish and Game Commission Marine Resource Committee

July 16

Santa Cruz Harbor Port Commission Meeting

July 28

Moss Landing Harbor Meeting

July 22

info@mbfishtrust.org | montereybayfisheriestrust.org