February 2026 - Director's Corner

By Melissa Mahoney, February 9

The year 2026 has begun with some significant challenges, including concerning national news and a delayed start to the central coast Dungeness crab season. At the Trust, we’ve used this moment to sharpen our focus—setting clear impact targets across our programs and reflecting on our 2025 work to build on what’s working well and address what’s been harder to move forward. 

In early January, I had the privilege of speaking at the People’s Hearing to help organize opposition against the Trump Administration’s plans to lease federal waters off California for oil/gas and seabed mining. It’s important to note that seabed mining is particularly damaging to the ocean ecosystem, impacting everything from the ocean floor to surface waters.

Alongside our community, we continue to deliver meaningful impact.  We recently celebrated two years of partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank by distributing local grenadier to families in need while supporting local fishermen. We are also collaborating with research partners at UCSC and the Monterey Bay Aquarium on the first comprehensive analysis of commercial fisheries trends in Monterey Bay in over 15 years. Look for more details on the report this spring. We are excited to have eight fabulous Get Hooked dinners planned for this year with premier chefs across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties!

Over my three-plus years as Director, I’ve learned how essential it is to balance our mission-driven plans with the unexpected challenges that require us to adapt. While flexibility isn’t always easy for a small nonprofit, it keeps our work dynamic and responsive. We remain deeply committed to feeding local communities with local seafood, supporting fishing families, and building a resilient future for our working waterfronts. 
I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events, starting with Hook & Line in Santa Cruz on February 24th!