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MAY 2025

Closed for a 3rd year: What Does the Future Hold for California’s Salmon Fishery?

If pondering the extinction of the California salmon fishery sounds dramatic, or premature, perhaps you’re not paying close enough attention. 

Consider this: Even if struggling salmon do make a comeback from a disastrous combination of environmental conditions and problematic water management, the infrastructure and market that make a fishery viable, at least for the Monterey Bay fleet, might be too compromised to survive, let alone thrive.

That thought is frequently on the minds of local fishermen, and now as much as ever, since the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) yet again determined their fate at their recent meeting.

50 Year Legacy: Vietnamese Boat People Thrive as Monterey Fishermen

MBFT staff contributed to this recent article published in the San Jose Mercury News highlighting a group of Vietnamese-American fishermen who work out of Moss Landing harbor, and who are a vital supplier to the Community Seafood Program. Reporter Jia Jung shares the amazing story of how they came to be Monterey Bay fishermen, including all of the obstacles they have overcome, and the contribution they make to our waterfront community. Give it a read online HERE or using the link to the PDF below.

The 2024 Impact Report is Out!

We’re thrilled to share our 2024 Impact Report! This past year was one of exciting growth for the Community Seafood Program, a memorable 10th Anniversary Celebration, and deepening community connections—all in support of a vibrant, resilient Monterey Bay fishing industry.

Important Updates! The upcoming dinner with Outstanding in the Field on the Capitola Wharf May 28th, is officially Sold Out! We're so excited for the opportunity to collaborate and be a beneficiary of this event, the first of its kind on the newly renovated Capitola Wharf.

MBFT will partner with Other Brother Brewery in Seaside again, and hold a Pint Night to benefit the Community Seafood Program on Sunday, June 1st.

Finally, don't miss our next Get Hooked Dinner at the Monterey Beach Hotel on Tuesday, June 10th. The event will be held in their stunning banquet room overlooking Del Monte beach, ensuring a spectacular sunset view of the Monterey Bay as you enjoy local wines, passed appetizers, followed by a three course meal. Tickets available now - reserve your spot before they sell out!

Thank you to our sponsor, Pinnacle Bank!

Pop-Up at Other Brother Brewery

Seaside

June 1st

11am - 4pm

(non-ticketed event)

Get Hooked Dinner at

the Monterey Beach Hotel

Monterey

June 10th

6pm

Other Upcoming Events:

Colectivo Felix, Santa Cruz - July 17th

Pete's, Capitola - Sept 18th

Solstice, Big Sur - Nov 16th

We are looking for corporate sponsors to underwrite future Get Hooked dinners. If you are interested in growing your company’s visibility by giving locally, please email us at: info@mbfishtrust.org

Together, We Must Keep Pushing Forward

The closure of California’s king salmon fishery for a third consecutive year wasn’t unexpected, but it still hurts. It landed with a heavy thud, like a boulder sinking into thick mud: silent but reverberating, clouding the waters and forcing all the creatures nearby to duck and cover.

Speaking of duck and cover, that’s how I’ve felt every time I look at the daily news cycle. Here’s just a glimpse of what we’re tracking — developments that will have deep, lasting impacts on our fisheries and ocean health...

SEASONAL SEAFOOD RECIPE

Johnny's Dungeness Crab Cakes

While crab season is officially over in Monterey, it doesn't mean you can't still find it around town, and prepared deliciously. Johnny's Harborside in Santa Cruz does an incredible crab cake with local dungeness, that tastes amazing, and is easy to recreate for yourself!

Use our Local Catch Guide to find markets that may have local dungeness still available (flash frozen crab also tastes great with this kind of recipe). Or check out this signature dish at Johnny's Harborside in Santa Cruz Harbor and taste for yourself!

Merch

MBFT has some great merch available in the store! Check out our "Locals Only" Mugs and shirts, and our very popular "Make Rockfish Great Again" hats, and more!

Another great way to support our mission and represent the Fisheries Trust around town.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for their renewed support and commitment to our local, sustainable fisheries through a two-year general operating grant. We are thankful for our ongoing partnership. We also appreciate the Resources Legacy Fund for helping to fund the development of a socioeconomic assessment for Monterey Bay’s commercial fisheries, the first of its kind in over a decade. Our work would not be possible without our generous funders and donors.

info@mbfishtrust.org | montereybayfisheriestrust.org