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The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust’s new Moss Landing Pilot Project, launched under the Future of Blue Initiative, is bringing together fishermen, scientists, harbor leaders, and community partners to strengthen the future of Monterey Bay’s working waterfronts. Centered in Moss Landing Harbor, the 12-month pilot will turn decades of fisheries and climate data into practical, community-driven solutions that support resilient fisheries, modernized infrastructure, and long-term economic sustainability. By combining research with fishermen’s lived experience, the project aims to create an implementation-ready roadmap that can serve as a model for working waterfront communities across California.

We will be sharing updates and opportunities to participate and share feedback along the way! Watch for the upcoming release of our Fisheries Trends report next month.

Learn more about the Initiative HERE

As summer approaches and visitors return to the coast, demand for fresh local seafood is expected to surge—especially with the long-awaited return of salmon season. If you’re planning to host dockside sales, we’d love to help spread the word. MBFT can promote your off-the-boat sales through our email campaigns and social media channels to help connect more customers directly with local fishermen. Simply send us your sale details, including date, time, and location, and we’ll help direct seafood lovers your way.

Email us at info@mbfishtrust.org

The West Business Development Center is offering free social media marketing lessons for local food promotion:

"Your food deserves an audience. Farmers, food businesses, cooperatives, and food systems organizations will 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."

WHEN: Tuesday, June 23 | 5:00- 6:30PM

WHERE: Online: Zoom 

What does the future of California’s fishing industry look like in a time of climate uncertainty, shifting regulations, and changing ocean conditions? A newly released report from Ocean Strategies takes a closer look at the challenges—and opportunities—ahead for working waterfronts and commercial fisheries. The report highlights the growing need for resilient infrastructure, adaptive management, and stronger collaboration between fishermen, researchers, and coastal communities to sustain the industry for future generations. For anyone invested in the future of Monterey Bay’s fishing economy, it’s a timely and thought-provoking read. 

California’s long-awaited salmon season is officially underway, marking the return of commercial salmon fishing after three consecutive years of closures. While the reopening brings renewed optimism to fishing communities across the coast, the 2026 season is operating under a new in-season management framework with harvest guidelines and possible early closures to help ensure the continued recovery of salmon populations. To help fishermen and anglers stay informed, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has launched new Commercial and Recreational Ocean Salmon Tracking tools that provide real-time updates on catch totals, harvest guidelines, and season status throughout the year.



For the latest updates and tracking tools, visit the CDFW Ocean Salmon Fishery Information page. You can also check for rapid, day-of changes to regulations by calling the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429 or the NMFS hotline at (800) 662-9825.

The California Ocean Protection Council’s recent Dungeness Crab Task Force Executive Committee meeting brought together industry representatives, regulators, and stakeholders to discuss key issues facing the fishery, including marine life entanglement risk reduction, updates to the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP), fishery management priorities, and future policy considerations for the Dungeness crab industry. The meeting also included discussions around task force structure, elections, and priority topics for the upcoming fall 2026 meeting, highlighting the continued collaboration needed to support a sustainable and resilient crab fishery along the California coast. Meeting materials and summary documents will be posted on the California Ocean Protection Council Dungeness Crab Task Force Meetings page. 

The upcoming Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting on June 16 will include several agenda items that are particularly relevant to Monterey Bay fishermen and fishing communities. Of note are actions tied to fisheries management and funding for the Statewide Marine Aquaculture Action Plan, both of which fall under the Council’s Sustainable Blue Economy goals and may shape future regulatory and investment priorities for commercial fishing and aquaculture operations along the Central Coast. Also of interest are broader discussions on coastal water quality, biodiversity conservation (including 30×30 implementation), and offshore wind planning, which could have indirect impacts on fishing access, habitat use, and ocean space management in the Monterey Bay region. Meeting materials will be posted on the OPC website starting June 5, where full agenda documents and supporting details can be reviewed once available.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meets June 10–15 in Spokane, with several agenda items important to Monterey Bay fishermen. Key topics include final action on 2027–28 groundfish harvest specifications and management measures, including potential changes to rebuilding plans, trawl regulations, and exempted fishing permits that could affect access and operating conditions. The Council will also review stock assessments, inseason management updates, and information on highly migratory species and salmon, all of which help shape future West Coast fishing seasons. Meeting materials will be posted on the PFMC website ahead of the meeting, where fishermen can review details and follow along with proceedings.

Pacific Fisheries Management Council Meeting

June 10-15

Ocean Protection Council

June 16

Fish and Game Commission Meeting

June 17-18

Santa Cruz Harbor Port Commission Meeting

June 23

Moss Landing Harbor Meeting

June 24

info@mbfishtrust.org | montereybayfisheriestrust.org