In Monterey, Moss Landing, and Santa Cruz, commercial fishermen and women are central to the vitality of our working harbors and rich cultural heritage. Along with them are fish processors and delivery drivers, marine mechanics and chefs, harbormasters and scientists. It takes a village to make sustainable seafood in Monterey Bay possible. Here are some of the people who are part of our seafood web.
We will be regularly adding new bios to our community page. Please send suggestions to info@montereybayfisheriestrust.org
Restaurateurs
At Wild Fish in Pacific Grove there’s never any question about where your seafood comes from: the name of the boat and, often, the name of the captain are included in a fish’s description on the menu.
Fisherman
Walter Deyerle is the quintessential waterman. When the 30-year-old is not making a living catching halibut, rockfish, sablefish and Dungeness crab on the Monterey Bay, he’s surfing, diving, boating and sport fishing. He’s even paddled out and caught waves at Mavericks, a monstrous break just north of Half Moon Bay.
Chef
For chef Pamela Burns at The Wild Plum in Monterey “fish of the day” means just that: fresh, local fish recently brought to the dock by someone who lives along the same shore as she. It’s not a placeholder for fish long forgotten in the freezer with a source obscured by time and middlemen.
Fisherman
There are few people who are as excited to get up in the morning and go to work as David Toriumi, 36, a Watsonville native who fishes out of Santa Cruz. Toriumi made his passion a profession and still hasn’t lost his youthful enthusiasm for the sea in doing so.
Executive Chef
David opened Geisha Japanese Restaurant and Tea House in Capitola in 2011 – it was the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the county, and is still one of the few in the nation. He partnered with the non-profit FishWise which helped him craft a statement about sustainable seafood for his restaurant. The restaurant in and of itself is a manifestation of his passion for Japanese folk medicine, culture, and cuisine.
Wholesale Buyer, Fisherman, Retail Market, and Community Supported Fishery (CSF)
Seventeen years ago, before seafood was called “sustainable”, fisherman Hans Haveman was selling his catch at Monterey Peninsula farmers' markets and telling people why they should buy local fish. “I saw that there was real passion in organic food,” he said. “And I liked being a part of that.”
Harbormaster
The Santa Cruz harbormaster’s job is as multi-faceted as the harbor itself – from the fuel dock to the swimming beach and boatyard- it has a lot of moving parts and requires thinking on your feet. Latisha Marshall took on the position of harbormaster in January of 2015.
Fisherman & Fishmonger
Brendan Pini is co-founder of Fished and Foraged, a Santa Cruz based company that provides fish from the Monterey Bay and mushrooms from the Santa Cruz mountains to local restaurants and markets.
Deckhand
Lorenzo grew up in Watsonville, but much of his education took place in Moss Landing and on the Monterey Bay. Starting at about the age of five, his father took him to the jetty and beach to fish, and then out on a motorboat to where they spent weekends baiting hooks and casting.
Restaurant Owner, Chef
Cindy and Ted Walter are co-owners of Passionfish Restaurant in Pacific Grove...They are spokespeople and educators when it comes to sourcing food responsibly- particularly when it comes to seafood and the ocean.
Fisherman
Skylar Campbell is a commercial fisherman by day and drummer by night. “I’m sure I’m living somebody’s dream,” he said. “I admit, sometimes I fantasize about a steady income, but really, I know I’m blessed to live like this.”
Harbormaster
Linda McIntyre has been the harbormaster in Moss Landing since 1999. She came to this position with a background is in government and law.
Wholesale Fish Buyer & Seller
Roger Whitney has been part of the Monterey Bay fishing community since he was a child. He grew up fishing for albacore, salmon and smelt in the Monterey Bay with his father.
Community Supported Fishery (CSF), Fishermen
Having met each other in school, Ian Cole and Charlie Lambert began exploring their passion to make fresh, local seafood accessible to their communities. The goal of Ocean2Table is to deliver fresh fish (within one day of being caught), while also educating the consumer about where their fish is coming from.
Fisherman
Born into a fishing family, Jerid grew up on the ocean. Starting at the age of five, he spent his childhood fishing with his dad on albacore boats.
Fisherman
Scott Fosmark is a fifth generation commercial fisherman from Monterey. He came of age learning how to wrestle salmon, albacore tuna, and even swordfish onto the deck and into the hold.
Jane DeLay has always been motivated by her love for the ocean. In 2001, she coordinated the "Fisherman's Forum on Marine Protected Areas", a three-day conference to explore options for establishing MPA's on the central coast.
Executive Chef
Matthew Beaudin spent years honing his palate by working around the world. From Hong Kong to Rwanda, the West Indies and Cincinnati, he plied his trade and learned local spices and traditions. He’s found a home at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon.
Fisherman & Fishmonger
When Jerry Wetle was 12 years old, he would ride his skateboard around Monterey and often end up at the harbor. One day, a fisherman who was tying off asked for Jerry's help with a line.
Retired Monterey Harbormaster & Consultant to Coastal Communities
Steve was the harbormaster in Monterey for 22 years before retiring in in February 2017. Prior to this, he was the harbormaster in Santa Cruz, where he first got to know commercial fishermen and learn about what they needed in a working harbor.
Fisherman & Fishmonger
Calder Deyerle fishes for Dungeness crab, King salmon, California halibut, black cod and rockfish on the Monterey Bay. He grew up crewing for his father Richard and uncle Daniel Deyerle, owners of Sea Harvest restaurants and a wholesale seafood business by the same name.
Fisherman & “Deck Boss”
When F/V Pioneer docked in Moss Landing, Joeleen Lambert could be seen tapping rapidly on her flip phone, making sure the catch from that day would be offloaded to buyers.
Fisherman
Guiseppe “Joe” Pennisi is a third generation Monterey fisherman. He began fishing at age 7, deckhanding on weekends and during summer vacation.
Community Supported Fishery (CSF), Fisherman
Alan founded Real Good Fish (formerly Local Catch Monterey Bay in 2012) as a solution to reconnect our communities to the ocean and local fisheries. Alan was honored at the White House in 2016 as a “Champion of Change” for innovations in Sustainable Seafood.