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Dear Fisheries Friend,
October is here, and with it comes a new season of local seafood, fall flavors, and opportunities to celebrate the people who keep Monterey Bay’s fishing community thriving. This month, we’re highlighting National Seafood Month, sharing ways to find and enjoy local seafood, and discussing implications of the Super El Niño on local fisheries. We’re also excited to share a new fall recipe featuring local halibut, plus exciting upcoming events.
Dive in!
Here’s what is on the menu:
• Find local seafood near you during National Seafood Month!
• Learn about the Incoming Super El Niño with a fisheries economist
• Check out the Monterey Bay Commercial Fisheries: Status and Trends Report webinar
• Join us for the October 13th Get Hooked dinner at Stokes Adobe in Monterey and Outstanding in the Field at Capitola Wharf on November 12th!
• Read about September’s hurricane of activity in this month's Director's Corner
• Make this delicious California halibut recipe with seasonal squash, apple, and fennel
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Make October a month to eat local! October is National Seafood Month, and there’s no better time to enjoy seafood caught right here in Monterey Bay. When you ask for local catch at your favorite fish market, grocery store, or restaurant, you’re doing more than getting fresh, delicious seafood—you’re supporting the hardworking fishermen and businesses that power our coastal economy.
These purchases keep money circulating in our communities, sustain working waterfronts, and preserve Monterey Bay’s rich fishing heritage for future generations. When you choose locally caught seafood, you’re also helping to build a stronger connection between our community and the ocean that feeds us. Discover where to buy and enjoy local Monterey Bay seafood on our new Find Local Seafood page—and ask for local catch by name!
| | A top expert anticipates Godzilla El Niño impacts | |
Disasters don’t usually allow for much anticipation.
That’s one of many truths unspooled by Anthony Rogers as he contemplates what’s coming this winter (and already building) with the so-called “Super El Niño”—aka “Whopper El Niño” or “Godzilla El Niño”—as it readies to torment the West Coast and well beyond.
“Normally you don’t get a heads up about a disaster,” he says. “We know this is coming.”
There are other crucial revelations he shares, including how helpful Godzilla El Niño warnings—which allow fishers, coastal communities, governments and more to prepare—are endangered by budget cuts.
Quick reminder: Rogers is not only one of the leading voices on fishery health in his role as a senior fellow of Fisheries Economics & Climate at the Ocean Conservancy, he’s also a Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust board member.
His recent “How Can Fishing Communities Respond to the Most Extreme Climate Shocks?” talk as part of the 2026 Bodega Marine Laboratory Seminar Series traversed an expanse of research.
He discussed how fishermen can manage big plot twists like Dungeness crab season closure, soaring sea surface temperatures, and fisheries shifting or shutting down. While acknowledging that diversification helps, he noted that major events create limitations to what the fleet can do to survive.
| ICYMI - The Webinar Recording is Live! | | |
Missed the Trends Report webinar? The recording is now available! Hear directly from the authors and researchers behind MBFT’s Monterey Bay Commercial Fisheries: Status and Trends Report as they discuss the findings and what over four decades of fisheries data can tell us about the past, present, and future of our industry. Watch the recording to catch up on the conversation and explore what the data means for Monterey Bay fisheries.
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Stokes Adobe - October 13th
| | | | Our Get Hooked dinner series continues with an unforgettable evening at Stokes Adobe in downtown Monterey on October 13th. Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully crafted multi-course menu celebrating Monterey Bay seafood provided by Ocean2Table, paired with the stories of the fishermen and working waterfront that make these meals possible. Join us for a delicious night of community, sustainability, and local flavor! | | There are only a few seats remaining, so reserve your tickets before this special event sells out! | | These dinners directly benefit the Community Seafood Program, ensuring each dish supports both our local fishing families and community food access. | | A special thank you to our dinner series sponsors! | | | | |
Bay Federal Credit Union
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Outstanding in the Field - November 12th
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MBFT returns to Outstanding in the Field! We’re excited to be part of Outstanding in the Field again this year, as they host a one-of-a-kind long-table feast on the newly rebuilt Capitola Wharf on November 12. The afternoon will bring together Monterey Bay fisherfolk, Santa Cruz County farmers, local food, wine, and the MBFT team for a celebration of our region’s working waterfront and the people who sustain it. Fisherman Hans Haveman of H&H Fresh Fish will join the event, with chef and other details to come. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the best local seafood and produce in an unforgettable setting while celebrating the vibrant food and fishing community that makes the Monterey Bay special.
If you're unfamiliar with this series, check it out here.
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A Monthly Digest from
Executive Director Melissa Mahoney
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One word sums up the month of September: hurricane.
With at least nine recorded hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean—including notable storms like Marie, Nolo, Polo, Odalys, and Rachel—some brought severe destruction to communities on the island of Hawaii. Out on the water, there is widespread talk of unusual oceanic conditions, an impending super El Niño, and the anticipation of stormy weather for our West Coast fisheries this year.
Metaphorically speaking, the first part of September felt like a hurricane of activity—but in a positive way.
We released the Monterey Bay Commercial Fisheries: Status & Trends Report on September 1st, marking a major landfall moment for MBFT. Our team worked on this document for nearly a year after acquiring the 40+ year dataset from CDFW last October. Having it fully laid out, finalized, and released to the world felt both exhilarating and terrifying—much like standing in the path of an approaching storm. I felt incredibly proud of this accomplishment and its contribution to our region's social science. At the same time, I felt that inescapably human fear of "not good enough" once exposed to the public eye. But like being in a hurricane, there comes a moment to surrender and just let go. So I did. And you know what? It was fun!
| | Roasted Monterey Bay Halibut with Delicata Squash, Apple & Fennel | | October is the perfect time for a simple roasted fish dinner that pairs the clean, delicate flavor of local halibut with the best of fall produce. Here, buttery delicata squash is roasted until caramelized and topped with crisp apple, shaved fennel, fresh herbs, and a bright lemon vinaigrette. The result is a colorful, satisfying meal that lets local halibut take center stage. | | Thank You to Our Generous Donors | | Thank you to Sarah Orr, Chef Ethan, and the whole team at Pete’s in Capitola for hosting an incredible Get Hooked event on September 15th. We also extend our thanks to Brendan Miele of Second Harvest Food Bank and Taylor Sacks of Ocean2Table for speaking on behalf of our Community Seafood Program partnerships, and to our generous sponsors, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Montage Health, and Bay Federal Credit Union. We appreciate all who joined us—your support helps us put more local fish on local plates. We are also deeply grateful to U.S. Bank for their renewed funding of our work to strengthen Monterey Bay’s fishing economy. | | | | |
