Melissa Mahoney
Executive Director
Since August 2022, Melissa has served as Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, where she leads initiatives to stabilize local fishing operations, expand community seafood access, and revitalize Monterey Bay’s working waterfront. Under her leadership, the organization is deepening its role as a systems-level intermediary supporting fishermen, local food systems, and regional economic development.
Melissa Mahoney brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of sustainable seafood, fisheries policy, and marine innovation along the U.S. West Coast. Her career has focused on translating complex fishery science and regulatory frameworks into practical solutions that strengthen fishing businesses and coastal economies.
She has worked extensively within state and federal management processes, advancing fisheries monitoring technologies, supporting experimental and adaptive fishing strategies, and building cross-sector partnerships among fishermen, scientists, regulators, and community stakeholders. Her work centers on creating viable pathways where environmental stewardship and economic resilience reinforce one another.
Marilou Inzunza
Operations Manager
Marilou joined Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust in April 2023 as its Operations Manager. Marilou has years of experience in operations, business & project management, and human resources. Born and raised in and around the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz areas, she understands the need for access to resources for local community businesses and members to thrive.
Marilou received her Bachelor's from Santa Clara University and it was during this time that she began her career in operations. After years of working in operations, business management, and project management, she decided to get her Master's in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay. Marilou is happy to be working in the community and giving back to the place that saw her grow!
When not working, Marilou enjoys spending time with her fur baby, friends, and family, traveling, reading, hiking, and going to museums, anything that keeps her physically active and mentally stimulated.
Emily Hess
Programs & Communications Manager
Emily joined the Trust in November 2023 as its Programs and Communications Manager. Excited to be a part of the fisheries world once again, Emily brings to the position a skillset in communications and program management accumulated over years working for organizations such as the Catalina Island Marine Institute, Real Good Fish, Folktale Group, among others. A Monterey resident, Emily has also worked with various marine science agencies throughout the Monterey Bay area in her capacity as a science illustrator. She has a BS in Marine Ecology from Seattle Pacific University and received her graduate degree in Science Illustration from CSUMB.
Kelley Johnson
Director of Development
Kelley joined the Trust in the summer of 2019 as a grant writer and fundraising consultant. She has been providing environmental communication and non-profit development consulting services, with an emphasis in grant writing, funder research, and workshop coordination, since 2015. Prior to this, she worked for over 10 years in both the private and public sectors in marine conservation and climate change planning and communication. Kelley holds a BS in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MS in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.
Dwayne Oberhoff
Quota Manager
Dwayne has several years of experience both in quota and permit management through his work with The Nature Conservancy and the Morro Bay Community Quota Fund. He is the founder of Ecological Assets Management, Inc. (a consulting firm based out of Los Osos, California), and has previously worked for Lisa Wise Consulting, the California Department of Fish and Game, California Army National Guard, and California Polytechnic State University participating in a wide variety of biological and environmental projects and programs. Dwayne has a Masters of Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Mark C. Anderson
Contributing Writer
Mark has dedicated his professional life force to good causes, compelling storytelling and far-flung travel, often with local and sustainable seafood involved, from Halong Bay oysters to Yelapa bonito tuna. A Monterey native, he grew up on area shores where he now scuba dives and body surfs. His first nonprofit role was creating an intervention program for at-risk middle schoolers in Los Angeles, and he continues to serve with organizations like the Monterey County Food System Coalition. Writing and reporting has taken him from researching sustainable shrimp farms for Monterey Bay Aquarium to writing for the likes of Monterey County Weekly and Edible Monterey Bay. His work has appeared in places including the San Francisco Chronicle and America’s Best Food Writing.