Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust 2020 Impact Report
We’re pleased to release the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust 2020 Impact Report. It goes without saying, the COVID-19 crisis dramatically impacted just about everyone, including our community members who harvest, process, prepare, and distribute seafood. At MBFT, we had to quickly rethink our strategy and approach for how to effectively serve our community during these unprecedented times. This meant canceling some programs, like Get Hooked Restaurant Week in Santa Cruz, and launching new ones, like our #MontereyBaySeafood outreach campaign and the Monterey Bay Community Seafood Program.
One of our primary goals in 2020 was to help keep Monterey Bay fishing businesses afloat during this crisis so that jobs and critical infrastructure wouldn’t be lost. This involved helping seafood businesses navigate COVID-19 relief programs, educating consumers about where to find local, sustainable seafood during the shut-downs, supporting fishermen as they shifted to direct-to-consumer markets, and expanding the network of technical assistance and loan programs for fishermen so they can better weather future storms.
Additionally, the breakdown of international markets presented an opportunity to rebuild our seafood supply chain from cheap and predictable imports to fresh, local, and sustainable fish. We were thrilled to witness an increased interest in local seafood, as demand for community-supported fisheries and dock sales skyrocketed.
While 2020 presented many unforeseen difficulties, we’re proud of the Monterey Bay fishing community for its resolve and creativity during these challenging times.