January 2026 - Director's Corner
By Melissa Mahoney, January 6
Happy New Year!
As the wheels of commerce begin to turn in the new year, we face both opportunities and challenges—ones we must meet together.
The first major challenge is a threat to the entire California coast: our ocean ecosystem and the economy it sustains. Late last year, the Trump Administration released plans to open federal waters to oil, gas, and deep-sea mining exploration. The proposal includes six potential lease sales off the California coast—three in Southern California, two in Central California, and one in Northern California—placing large stretches of our shoreline at risk.
This plan threatens coastal communities, wildlife, and local economies by increasing the risk of spills and driving unnecessary fossil fuel expansion. If you would like to speak out, public comments are currently being accepted until January 23, 2026. I encourage everyone to share your voices and help protect California’s coast. Save Our Shores is spearheading our region’s response, including events, details on the proposed plan and opportunities for public comment.
The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will also be participating in a public hearing on Friday, January 9, at the Portola Hotel in Monterey, alongside several elected officials, including U.S. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, State Senator John Laird, county supervisors from Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, nonprofit leaders and the Mayor of Monterey. We encourage you to register, attend, and make your voice heard.
An exciting opportunity that has taken shape over the past year is the growing momentum behind our Future of Blue Initiative. Our research team is currently preparing a report, Trends in Monterey Bay’s Commercial Fisheries, slated for publication in spring 2026. This report will be the first comprehensive analysis of fisheries and seafood economy trends across the Monterey Bay region in over a decade. Drawing on more than 30 years of landings, economic, and ecosystem data, it will provide a rigorous, evidence-based foundation for planning, investment, and policy decisions—helping to strengthen the long-term economic resilience of our working waterfronts.
We’ll be making several notable changes this year as we sharpen our focus and ensure we’re using our time and resources as effectively as possible. One milestone we’re aiming to reach in 2026 is providing more than 40,000 seafood meals across our region!
Finally, our sincere thanks to everyone who supported us through the Monterey County Gives campaign and other end-of-year donations. This community is looking toward the blue horizon, and together we will continue to feed and nourish our region with sustainable local seafood while keeping our working waterfronts thriving.