Healthy ocean
Thriving fisheries
Resilient communities
A nonprofit ensuring our coastal communities benefit from active, working waterfronts and local, sustainable seafood — for years to come.
Local Seafood Matters
Local seafood connects people to place. It supports fishermen, strengthens coastal communities, keeps regional food systems resilient, and helps preserve a working waterfront culture that has shaped Monterey Bay for generations.
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Food & Community
Connecting people with fresh, local seafood and the stories behind it.
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![Line drawing of a fisherman with a mustache wearing a hat and overalls, a fishing lure, and a fish with a hook.]()
Fishermen & Economy
Supporting the families and businesses that keep Monterey Bay fishing.
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Future & Resilience
Helping build a stronger, more sustainable future for local fisheries.
How Can We Help You Connect?
Whether you are looking for local seafood, resources for fishermen, ways to support our work, or opportunities to partner, start here.
I Want To
Find Local
Seafood
Explore where to buy local seafood, learn what is in season, and connect with markets, restaurants, and direct-from-the-boat options.
I Am A
Fisherman
Access resources, industry updates, quota information, and support through the Fishermen’s Portal.
I Want To
Support
The Work
Learn how donations help strengthen local seafood access, fisheries resilience, and community programs.
I Want To
Partner
Explore community partnerships, food access programs, events, and ways to get involved.
A Tiny Nonprofit With an Outsized Impact
Founded in 2014, the Trust now protects local fishing rights, feeds neighbors in need, and is rebuilding the working waterfront. The numbers tell the story.
The Boats That Feed Us Twice
In Monterey Bay, fishermen and women have fed our coastal communities for generations. Today, many are feeding neighbors who can't afford to eat — in a county where more than 40% of residents face food insecurity. Through the Community Seafood Program, the Trust buys local catch at a fair price, and partners turn it into fresh, nutritious meals for families, farmworkers, and seniors in need. The fisherman stays in business. The family gets fed. The same boat feeds the Bay twice.
How the Work Gets Done
Four areas of work, one mission: a healthy ocean and a thriving fishing community that lasts
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Community Seafood Program
Buying local catch to feed neighbors facing hunger — while keeping local fishermen in business.
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Get Hooked
Connecting the community to local seafood through the Local Catch Guide, the #MontereyBaySeafood campaign, and the Get Hooked Dinner Series.
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Quota Leasing
Holding West Coast groundfish fishing rights in trust and leasing them to local fishermen at reduced rates, so access stays local.
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Future of Blue
A regional partnership revitalizing Monterey Bay's working waterfronts and building a sustainable blue economy.
Find and Learn About Local Seafood
Explore local seafood options, learn what is in season, discover fishing methods, and connect with markets, restaurants, community supported fisheries, and direct buying opportunities.
Partner With Us
Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust works with fishermen, food partners, community organizations, funders, educators, and supporters to strengthen local seafood systems and coastal resilience.
Together, We Can Feed Our Community and Support Our Working Waterfronts
Every dollar does double duty: a meal for a neighbor in need, and steady income for a local fisherman. The work continues because the community decides it should.