March 2024 - Director's Corner

By Melissa Mahoney - March 10, 2024

From the Rally for Science, 3.7.25

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been focusing on local partnerships, development, and programs, keeping my head down amid the relentless national headlines. In the spirit of building local community, we hosted our second Get Hooked dinner with the fantastic team at Hook + Line in Santa Cruz. The sold-out evening was uplifting—just the counterbalance I needed to the troubling news cycle. (If you missed it, don’t worry - there are 6 more dinners! Check our events webpage for your chance to join us.)

Closer to home, the Moss Landing battery fire flared up again and soil tests from MLML researchers revealed dangerously high toxin levels in the surrounding area. This contradicts Vistra’s website which claims their soil testing indicated ‘there are no elevated metals associated with the fire in soil’. Who is more motivated to calm the concerns?

Meanwhile, the Sacramento River fall-run chinook salmon forecast has been released ahead of the March Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting. The data suggest we’re facing a third consecutive year without a fishery. Many have forgotten that the salmon industry once contributed $1.4 billion annually to the economy, supporting thousands of jobs, livelihoods, cultural traditions, and vital nutrition. (A breakdown is available here, thanks to our friends at the Golden State Salmon Association.)

Adding to the concerns, the latest decisions from Washington, D.C. hit home today—NOAA was forced to cut 7% of its staff, nearly 900 employees. The full impact on programs remains unclear, but I know firsthand that fisheries science and management will be among those affected. NOAA Fisheries plays a critical role in managing our nation’s marine resources, and these cuts threaten essential data collection, which in turn compromises the stock assessment process and everything downstream of that (especially catch limits). It’s alarming to consider the long-term effects of these decisions, especially when viewed alongside broader federal policy shifts, international maneuvers, and recent deportation mandates.

This isn’t about politics—it’s about asking the hard questions. I see a radical disruption to our processes and values, and I worry that some decision-makers don’t fully grasp the consequences.

Democracy is a team sport. At MBFT, we uphold values of respect for all, care for both planet and people, commitment to community, integrity, and the ability to engage in honest, respectful debate.