10 Big Thoughts From 2023 • A Year in Review
On the desk of one Fisheries Trust team member sits a little note card with a question: “What phase is the moon in?”
It’s a simple enough ask.
It’s also something Monterey Bay fishermen think about in terms of tides and seasonal shifts more than most. Same for the original Monterey Bay fishermen, for whom moonlight was a primary source of illumination.
The question on the card works as a double reminder for the Trust team.
One is to take moments to be at least a little more connected to what’s happening in the natural world.
Another is to keep the big picture in mind.
Both of those are relevant here, as MBFT takes a pause amid a busy time of year to look back at an eventful 2023 for us and the local fishing community.
Here are 10 storylines worth revisiting—and track moving forward. They also help put into context what an interesting and challenging time it is on Monterey Bay (with links to learn more).
1. The Community Seafood Program is increasing equitable access to local seafood.
By year's end, enough seafood will be purchased from local fishermen and seafood distributors to have donated 15,000 seafood meals to food relief partners, Al & Friends, Food Bank of Monterey County, Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, and The Big Share, Big Sur. We hope to turn up the dial on donations next year, and provide 20,000 seafood meals, including through our new partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank in Santa Cruz County.
The Get Hooked! dinner series, which directly supports the Community Seafood Program, presents a wonderland of tastes and information, as Wild Fish co-owner Liz Jacobs knows well.
“The main thing is when people get here, we feed them the real mission: We buy local fish. You can buy local fish. We connect guests with fishermen. We point out that you can actually buy the best fish in the country right here out of our front door. It’s simple, but it excites people.”
There were six such Get Hooked! celebrations in 2023, with seven more already slated for 2024, including Chez Noir (Feb. 7); Colectivo Felix at Madson Wines (March 7); Maligne (May TBD); Folktale Winery (June TBD); Meals on Wheels (July TBD); Sierra Mar (Sept. 12) and Jacobs’ own Wild Fish (October TBD).
The best part of the whole rockfish enchilada, though, would be the bottom line: Get Hooked has already raised $11,800, for the CSP, which in turn feeds hundreds of food-insecure locals healthy protein.
2. The West Coast salmon crisis is reaching new levels of intensity and, ironically — opportunity.
This July, the scene on the steps of the capitol building in Sacramento proved both disheartening and uplifting. Disheartening, in that state lawmakers continue to prioritize irrational water decisions over human, river and fishery health. The Trust was there to report on the gathering of tribal representatives, fishermen and environmentalists that was unprecedented in scope, which provided the uplifting part.
A main impetus for the rally was the closure of the salmon season, which MBFT looked at closely in April with a piece titled, “Disaster can be…good.”
3. The Trust is getting stronger.
Over the last year, the team has grown to include: new Programs and Communications Manager, Emily Hess, who brings a wealth of experience from working in marine science and education, seafood business marketing and graphic illustration; new Operations Manager, Marilou Inzunza, a lifelong seafood lover with substantial civic justice organizing experience and a passion for equal access to fresh fish; and three new board members, fishery biologist Dr. John Field, Chaps Poduri, a council member with the City of Pacific Grove, and Alyson Hunter, a city planner with the City of Marina.
4. First aid is now a part of more local fisherfolks’ skill sets.
It’s crazy to think how many fishermen often work far from shore, where any number of disasters are possible, without helpful training to solve first aid emergencies.
A breakthrough collaboration between California Sea Grant and MBFT now equips them with ways to deal with everything from a broken leg to a gaff impalement. (It can get real out there, as our “Fishermen First Aid Safety Training” breakdown makes vivid.)
5. MBFT’s library of resources is always…resourcing.
The Trust’s reservoir of reports often dive deeply into big ocean issues, which is important and timely. They also get into more evergreen narratives, like how to explore the bottom of the bay or the best ways to buy fresh local fish.
Both types of tales honor the Trust’s dovetailing mission and vision. The most viewed stories from the year gone help illustrate that.
Those are, in descending order of views: 1. How to buy seafood off the boat (dock sales); 2. Mapping the Monterey Canyon; 3. Fishing Gear types 101: Purse Seines; 4. Why do we still use the word Fisherman?; and 5. How to shop at a Fish Market (it’s not that scary).
6. The return of the local groundfish market is an inspiring tale, involving a novel approach from Noah’s Ark and Lusamerica.
The recovery of Monterey Bay groundfish deserves attention.
So does a major contributor to that effort, Noah’s Ark, and all the thought and sweat required to realize its own return to local shores.
Understanding the blueprint behind the relationship of Noah’s Ark and Monterey Bay proves to be a story that transcends 2023.
7. The crescendoing push for off-shore wind is complicating fishery management.
Green energy ranks as something sensible people can agree is good.
In the case of what’s being proposed off the West Coast, however, potential benefits are caught up—literally and figuratively—in everything from giant turbines to complicated regulations to electrical wires running along the seafloor.
It all makes for a mess that affects fisheries like Monterey Bay’s big time.
8. Fishermen are helping create fair rules around smart practices—with an assist from MBFT.
A lot of variables affect the quality of seafood on the plate and how it can be best harvested.
Changing rules are a part of that process, but can be tough to understand—and don’t always have input from the fishermen who understand the ecosystem well.
To that end, the Trust sponsors local fishermen to learn marine science and fisheries management through a program called MREP. MREP, or Marine Resource Education Program, empowers them to engage in fishery management forums such as the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and connect with key regional fishery science and management experts.
A primary reason for the Trust’s involvement, as MBFT Executive Director Melissa Mahoney points out: It’s impossible to be heard when you don’t have a voice.
“There’s this classic saying: If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” she says. “If any stakeholder isn’t there to express their interest or dependence in the resource, whatever stake they have is going to get eaten up because no one else is going to bring their perspective.”
9. A lot of compelling characters contribute to the local seafood ecosystem.
They don’t make many pro crabbers like Liza Star—she’s become a singular combination of artist, boat mechanic, surfer and mom, all after nearly drowning.
And she’s but one of many forces-for-good working in and around Monterey Bay.
MBFT profiles dozens of them on the website, including Marthá Lopez Ramirez, a fish cutter displaying heartfelt hustle that is rarely recognized.
10. Trying fresh local seafood recipes is a most tasty—and enjoyable—endeavor.
Breaking news: There are many ways to prepare great Monterey Bay seafood. Breaking news part two: 2023 has blitzed by.
A fun and easy way to learn new ways to cook and slow things down can be as simple as sizzling up local seafood with the help of area chefs, citizen cooks and other seafood fans. MBFT’s monthly recipes unlock all sorts of possibilities.
This year’s inspiration ranges from Dungeness crab Italian style (courtesy Cafe Fina) to Piccata Rock Cod (by Louie Linguini’s Lance Koehler), with many more on top of that.
Happy Holidays!