Few people in the Monterey Bay fishing community have a resumé quite like Kathy Fosmark. Feeling that fishermen weren’t adequately educating themselves about their rights and how to navigate the complex web of bureaucracy that directly affected their livelihoods, she quickly became a fearless and respected advocate of fishermen.

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.

While a proneness to seasickness kept Elaine Pennisi, 75, off the water, she has been involved with almost every other aspect of commercial fishing in Monterey. Pennisi has also experienced a tragedy every fishingmom fears the most—losing a son at sea.

For Monterey Harbormaster John Haynes, it’s a great vantage point on life: tides ebb and flood, tourists stroll along the waterfront, and people work on their boats for both pleasure and livelihood. In his job he must balance the interests of everyone.

Ricketts has remained a steadfast champion of commercial fishermen and sustainable fisheries. He is currently the president of the Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association. “I’m not gonna retire, I’m gonna fish until I die,” Ricketts says with a laugh. “I enjoy it, what else would I do?”

At nearly 70 years old, Sicily native and Monterey-based fisherman Giovannia Nevoloso, has been refining his craft since he began fishing on the Mediterranean Sea when he was just 6. Although its still hard hard work, through a lifetime of effort he’s become enamored with and found an efficiency in his practice.

In the three decades Bruno has owned the boatyard, he’s seen a lot change in Monterey fisheries. He’s kept Monterey’s fishing fleet afloat and he’s optimistic about the future and sees the local fishing economy rebounding and moving in the right direction.

Joeleen lives off both land and sea. When she’s not working on her ranch in Carmel Valley, she’s wrangling the team on the light touch trawler, the F/V Pioneer, alongside childhood friend Giusseppe ‘Joe’ Pennisi. She’s a relative new commer to the industry but picked up the ropes very quickly. Her potent combination of determination and charm is hard to forget.

Vicki Crow can be found on Dock A in Moss Landing most days selling fish and crab from her boat, the Beticia. She tries to carry what’s in season but has a freezer stocked with the local catch to keep up the supply when fishing’s slow.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

Guiseppe “Joe” Pennisi is a third generation Monterey fisherman. He began fishing at age 7, deckhanding on weekends and during summer vacation.