Margaret Spring’s Leadership Leaves a Lasting Impact

By Mark C Anderson, September 8, 2025

At first glance, news that the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust Board is losing one of its founders and visionary leaders would seem like a setback.

Instead it’s an opportunity—and even a reason to celebrate. 

And, as it turns out, Margaret Spring isn’t really leaving, other than to do more good work on behalf of the planet.

“I’ll never be disconnected to the Trust,” she says. “I’m not going anywhere, just switching channels a little bit.”

The move will allow Spring—who serves as the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s chief conservation and science officer after time as an ocean policy leader with NOAA, the U.S. Senate and The Nature Conservancy—to dedicate more time confronting massive environmental crises affecting both people and our ocean. 

Last month that took her to Geneva, Switzerland, to help launch the new Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, a monitoring system that will shine a light on the human health impacts of plastic pollution, as well as to represent the voice of science at the sixth round of negotiations to complete a Global Plastics Treaty.

If that sounds complicated, so was introducing the idea of a fisheries trust, which grew out of an independent evaluation of Monterey’s historic fishing community. Just as Spring joined the Aquarium in 2013, the City of Monterey adopted the “City of Monterey Fishing Community Sustainability Plan.” 

One of its recommendations was to create a Community Quota Fund, which would secure groundfish fishing rights for the community. The move was part of reform efforts and historic regulatory changes aimed at recovering the West Coast groundfish fishery. 

Along with her co-founders and then-executive director Sherry Flumerfelt, Spring knew that—before the Trust could best carry out this recommendation—they had to cultivate connectivity within the community. 

“There’s nothing more annoying to a community than an NGO that parachutes in with a mission and talks to people who live there much later,” Spring says. “We wanted to build trust through relationship building, having conversations, not saying, ‘Here’s what we’re trying to do,’ but listening, and learning about the area we hoped we could help, knowing our fishing community—and [this] special place’s fishing identity—could be gone before we knew it.” 

A key factor in the effort: harmonizing conservation efforts with fishing industry concerns.

“It’s powerful to have organizations you wouldn’t think would cooperate working together,” she says, noting the relationship between the Aquarium and fishing community had been contentious. “Us coming together as unlikely partners was possible because we focused on a common goal, finding connections across different interests to emphasize the importance of sustainability of both local fisheries and fishing communities.”

MBFT Executive Director Melissa Mahoney—who has been involved with the Trust since its founding in capacities ranging from consultant to board member—helps provide perspective.

“Margaret's leadership, tenacity, and energy have been instrumental since day one,” Mahoney says. “She readily stepped up to unite the community in securing fishing rights in Monterey, a truly significant undertaking.”

Mahoney cites the significance of Spring’s work as a lead author of the 2006 reforms that helped rebuild US fisheries, and her “genuine passion for balancing conservation with profitability in fisheries, which is hard to do.”

“I deeply appreciate Margaret's skill in navigating complex political and relational dynamics, and always keeping our long-term mission at the forefront,” Mahoney continues. “She effectively leveraged her credibility, network, and professional strengths to ensure MBFT's consistent support and success.”

Along with her technical and strategic prowess, Spring also contributed an additional element amid complex problem-solving: old-fashioned exuberance for the task at hand.

“I will personally miss her wise counsel during board meetings and her exceptional ability to refine language when needed,” Mahoney says, “and especially her joyful presence at our events…she always brought wisdom and positive energy.”

MBFT Board Members From Left: Chaps Poduri, Monica Galligan, John Field, Margaret Spring, Alyson Hunter, David Crabbe

Certain elements make her departure easier to digest. 

For one, it’s comforting that she helped recruit another luminary to take her place.

Incoming board member Anthony Rogers, a lifelong seafood enthusiast and senior fellow at the Ocean Conservancy, leverages extensive experience in the economic-ecology space, and humility about the legacy he inherits.

"Conservation, fishing, and community all go hand-in-hand, and Margaret's long commitment to the Trust has been an unshakeable foundation of ensuring that relationship is a reality,” he says. "’Standing on the shoulders of giants’ doesn't even begin to describe what serving as the conservation voice, after Margaret, is like. I quite literally wouldn't be here without everything she helped build." 

Mahoney observes another comforting detail, in the form of Spring’s ongoing influence: “While we will miss her voice at the table, her profound impact will continue to carry us forward.”