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Dear Fisheries Friend,
Fall has been a busy and exciting season at Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust! From bringing fishermen and seafood industry stakeholders together for workshops to building momentum around efforts to revitalize our working waterfronts, we've been hard at work helping shape a stronger future for Monterey Bay's fishing community. Read more about these important conversations and what we're learning in this month's featured article.
Whether you're planning a traditional feast this holiday season or looking to try something new, we encourage you to make locally caught seafood part of your holiday menu. It's a delicious way to celebrate the bounty of Monterey Bay while supporting the fishermen, families, and businesses that make our coastal community so unique. Here's to a season of gratitude, good food, and supporting local!
Here’s what is on the menu:
• Read a recap of our Moss Landing fisheries workshop in "The Future of Blue Gets Real"
• Save the Date for the MC Gives launch on Nov 12th!
• Check out the Dec 3rd Ocean Leadership Showcase at Hopkins Marine Station
• Join us for the Dec 4th Get Hooked dinner at Folktale Winery in Carmel Valley
• Explore our Trends to Action journey in this month's Director's Corner
• Try a seafood spin for your Thanksgiving table with Whole Roasted Rockfish
| | The Future of Blue Gets Real | |
Something magical happened on October 26th, as Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust (MBFT) gathered a group of Moss Landing Harbor stakeholders—mostly local fishermen, but also scientists, fishmongers, harbor officials, researchers, and political representatives—to discuss how to revitalize their fishing port without sacrificing its unique character.
That magic was most evident when two different MBFT staffers approached an unusual ceremonial bell that sits in the seminar room at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) where the meeting took place.
It’s a special instrument, forged from heavy metal with gothic dolphins supporting its structure, and one that makes a big noise.
But when both swung the bell’s hammer against its rim, to announce—BONG!!!—it was time for one of the day’s many group talks to conclude, nobody heard it.
That’s how engaged and passionate the collaborative conversation was.
The central purpose of the meeting: to take long-term commercial fisheries data assembled in an unprecedented report, “Monterey Bay Commercial Fisheries: Status and Trends,” and plan meaningful action.
The study itself took nine months to complete, and tracked seven key local fisheries through 44 years of harvesting from Santa Cruz, Moss Landing, and Monterey harbors...
| MC Gives! Launches This Week! | | |
Monterey County Gives! launches November 12th and runs through December 31st! We know there are many worthy causes to support during this season of giving, and we're grateful that you're considering Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust.
At a pivotal moment for our local fishing industry, your generosity can help us build a brighter future for Monterey Bay's fishermen, revitalize our working waterfronts, preserve our region's sustainable fishing heritage, and put nutritious local seafood on the tables of families in need. Together, we can ensure that our fishing community doesn't just survive, but thrives for generations to come. Please consider making Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust part of your year-end giving and help us turn hope into action!
| | Ocean Leadership Showcase - Dec 3rd | | |
MBFT is excited to participate in the Ocean Leadership Showcase, presented by the Bay Area Ocean Cluster on December 3rd at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove! This event brings together leading organizations, innovators, and community leaders working to advance ocean health, sustainability, and a thriving blue economy along the Northern California coast. MBFT will join the conversation on how healthy oceans and thriving coastal communities go hand in hand, highlighting our work to strengthen local fisheries and revitalize Monterey Bay's working waterfronts. We're looking forward to connecting with fellow ocean advocates, sharing ideas, and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
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Folktale Winery - December 4th
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On December 4th, we invite you to the beautiful Folktale Winery for an unforgettable night at the charming Vineyard House. Tucked away at the back of the property amidst the winter vines, this intimate, hidden gem offers the perfect cozy backdrop to honor Monterey Bay’s local seafood, our dedicated fishers, and the community that sustains them.
Indulge in exceptional cuisine and wonderful wines while building meaningful connections. Your seat at the table also directly supports our Community Seafood Program, which helps nourish local families in need while championing our fishing community.
Don't miss this final opportunity of the year to Get Hooked on local seafood for a great cause!
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Folktale Winery
Friday, December 4th
| | | A special thank you to our 2026 dinner series sponsors! | | | | |
Bay Federal Credit Union
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A Monthly Digest from
Executive Director Melissa Mahoney
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Some moments stay with us forever, and last month was filled with them.
On October 29th, a wonderful group gathered at the Haute Enchilada in Moss Landing to celebrate MBFT’s work to improve the viability of our local seafood economy. Co-hosted by the Moss Landing, Monterey Peninsula, and Pajaro Valley Chambers of Commerce, the café was filled with seafood and ocean research professionals, elected officials, partners, and friends.
Monterey County Supervisors Glen Church and Chris Lopez presented a Resolution acknowledging the Trust’s work to benefit coastal communities in the region and its impact on the local fishing community, declaring the County Board of Supervisors’ support. "Moss Landing really is the fishing hub of Monterey Bay—there’s no better place to recognize this vital industry," said Supervisor Church. "While we face real challenges, working together between science and industry will create a path toward a sustainable future."
Supervisor Lopez added, “I’ve noticed a trend where people are becoming disconnected from where their food comes from...thank you for changing the trajectory toward growth and vibrancy. Let’s get some ice here, some new docks, let’s make it happen!”
We then moved outside to “cut the ribbon” on this work, marking a turning point from “Trends to Action”. Having never held the ribbon-cutting scissors before, it was a thrill to feel the warmth and support of our community as years of quiet, steady work by our team came into the spotlight...
| | Thanksgiving Whole Roasted Rockfish with Citrus, Herbs & Brown Butter | | Who says turkey has to be the star of Thanksgiving? This year, bring a little Monterey Bay flavor to your holiday table with Whole Roasted Rockfish with Citrus, Herbs & Brown Butter! Beautifully presented and bursting with seasonal flavors, this locally caught seafood centerpiece is a delicious alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving bird. Rockfish's mild, flaky flesh pairs perfectly with your favorite holiday sides, making it a wonderful way to celebrate the season while supporting our local fishermen and sustainable seafood industry. Give thanks for the bounty of Monterey Bay and make local seafood part of your holiday traditions! | | Thank You to Our Generous Donors | | Thank you to Sarah Orr, Madi Reed, Cara Kinsey, and the whole team at Stokes Adobe in Monterey for hosting a lively, sold-out Get Hooked dinner on October 13th. We also extend our thanks to Monterey fisherman Adam Aliotti for sharing his experiences on the water 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 the Repass-Rodgers Foundation and the Landreth Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County for renewed general operating support and the Resources Legacy Fund for a new grant to support outreach and coordination with industry. | | | | |
