October 2025 - Director's Corner

By Melissa Mahoney, October 7th

A Visit to Sacramento

In late September, I visited Sacramento to attend two important meetings: the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting and the 50th annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum. My intention for both meetings was to raise the visibility of the Monterey Bay region as a focal point for research and new ideas to address the challenges facing our commercial fishing fleet. This includes our potential to work together to improve port infrastructure, boost local food production, create maritime jobs, and strengthen the economic development capacity of our three working waterfronts. 

At the fisheries forum, we heard from leaders at various state agencies, including California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham and Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, as well as several experts working to address major challenges with Dungeness crab, salmon, and kelp restoration. Although the meeting didn’t result in clear action steps, I appreciated the effort made by Senator Mike McGuire, who chairs the Joint Committee on Fisheries & Aquaculture, to ensure that current challenges in our ocean ecosystem and for fishing communities are well documented for California legislators and the public. 

At both of these meetings and in the hallways afterwards, much of the talk was around the potential promise of funding through the state’s newest climate fund. Proposition 4, approved by voters last November, authorizes the state to issue $10 billion in general-obligation bonds for climate-resilience, natural resources, and environmental projects. In this fiscal year (2025-26), Governor Newsom’s spending plan has $2.7 billion for various projects, including $75 million for ‘climate-ready’ fisheries and other marine projects such as kelp restoration. Key state agencies such as the Coastal Conservancy, the Ocean Protection Council, and the Coastal Commission, among others, will administer funding for climate related projects over the coming years. 

At the Fisheries Trust, we are working to secure a portion of that funding for Monterey Bay’s fishing communities, working waterfronts, and support businesses to help ensure the viability of our seafood economy. It will take coordination, organized voices, messages to the highest levels in Sacramento, and a sustained effort over the coming months and years. I plan to be at the table and hope you will join me in supporting our local food security and thriving coastal communities!