The Community Seafood Program: Feeding Families, Fueling Local Fisheries

By Emily Hess, April 6, 2026

Since launching in November 2020, the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust’s Community Seafood Program has been quietly transforming the intersection of food equity and sustainable fisheries. To date, the program has purchased or helped subsidize more than 35,000 pounds of locally caught seafood—providing over 138,000 nutritious meals to families across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and proving that innovative collaboration can help recover a struggling seafood economy while feeding more of the people who call this region home.

A Response Rooted in Need and Opportunity

Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program responded to two urgent challenges: fishermen losing traditional markets and a surge in food insecurity. Rather than see perfectly good fish go unsold or unused, MBFT forged partnerships that connected local fishers and seafood suppliers directly with local food relief organizations, providing nutritious seafood to families, farmworkers, seniors, and others facing hardship.

This initiative is much more than charitable food distribution. It’s a win‑win model that:

  • Supports local fishermen by guaranteeing fair, market‑rate purchases for their catch.

  • Strengthens the regional seafood economy by sustaining processing infrastructure and seafood businesses.

  • Delivers fresh, sustainably harvested seafood to food relief networks that serve vulnerable populations.

Partners in Purpose - How it Works

What makes the Community Seafood Program truly effective is the strong web of regional partners working together toward a shared mission. MBFT pays local seafood suppliers, including Sea Harvest, Ocean2Table, Real Good Fish, and Lusamerica to process and deliver seafood directly to food relief organizations across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. from the Food Bank of Monterey County to Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, and Grey Bears.

These collaborations ensure that freshly harvested fish doesn’t just reach high-end restaurants or markets, but also reaches the hardworking families, the food-insecure, and the unhoused people in our community.

“Our fishermen partners are eager to have reliable nearby markets. It's nice to see your catch show up right in your neighborhood, particularly for those who need it most,” says Ian Cole of Ocean2Table, one of the program’s seafood supplier partners.

Food relief partners echo this sentiment, describing the fresh seafood as “an extra special treat” for food pantry clients who otherwise might not have access to high‑quality protein.

Ashley Bridges, Executive Director of Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, shares, “I love when we can serve a meal that is restaurant quality, tastes good, and makes people feel human... I love the variety, and I know [our clients] really appreciate it.”

Program Evolution: Empowering Food Relief Organizations

To our delight, we’ve seen some food banks respond to demand by purchasing additional seafood from local suppliers. This has expanded the program’s impact and proves the value of and appreciation for locally sourced seafood. This year, we introduced a subsidy program to help offset the cost of seafood purchased directly by food relief partners, helping their budgets go further. 

Through the program, some partner organizations have:

  • Created new budgets specifically for purchasing local seafood.

  • Developed direct relationships with local fishers and seafood businesses, streamlining sourcing.

  • Gained the flexibility to select seafood products that best meet their communities’ nutritional needs, while still benefiting from MBFT’s support.

This evolution reflects a shift from solely providing seafood to empowering organizations to sustain their own local seafood purchasing. Together, we are strengthening our local food system and reinforcing the economic backbone of Monterey Bay’s fishing communities.

Growing Impact Through Community Support

Community support plays a vital role in making this work possible. Initiatives like our annual Week of Seafood Giving, held each summer, rally donations matched by generous supporters, amplifying the amount of seafood that can be purchased and distributed and helping more families access fresh, local seafood.

Community engagement of this kind—where local residents, businesses, and nonprofit allies all play a role—strengthens the fabric of the Central Coast in meaningful ways. It’s about more than feeding people; it’s about reaffirming that healthy food, economic vitality, and sustainable fishing practices can—and should—go hand in hand.

A Model for the Future

At its core, the Community Seafood Program is about more than meals. It’s about building a resilient local food system—one that supports fishing families, sustains working waterfronts, and ensures that the benefits of our coastal resources are shared across the community.

As economic and environmental pressures continue to shape our region, this program offers a hopeful path forward: one that nourishes both people and place, together.

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