June 2026 - Director's Corner

By Melissa Mahoney, June 8, 2026

One thing I’ve learned in four years as a nonprofit director is that we’re almost always wearing more than one hat. On any given day, that might mean being a manager, fundraiser, strategist, or community leader—each role bringing new lessons and challenges along the way.

Recently, I’ve added another hat to the collection: fisheries researcher.

It’s actually an old hat—one I’ve worn several times throughout my career—so it has been both fun and refreshing to step back into that role while collaborating with researchers from UC Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Monterey Bay’s Commercial Fisheries: Status & Trends, the first comprehensive regional fisheries analysis in more than a decade.

Scheduled for release later this summer, the report is the first phase of our multi-year Future of Blue Initiative that will serve as a foundation for community conversations about the past, present, and future of commercial fisheries in Monterey Bay. Drawing on more than 40 years of fisheries data, we examine trends in landings, ex-vessel value (what fishermen are paid at the dock), and participation across our region’s ports. We also take a closer look at the seven most significant fisheries and explore their vulnerability and resilience to changing ocean conditions and other emerging challenges.

This fall, we’ll launch the first stakeholder engagement process in Moss Landing Harbor, bringing together fishermen, scientists, harbor leaders, and community partners to develop a shared vision for climate-resilient fisheries and working waterfront infrastructure. Together, we’ll create a community sustainability plan with practical and actionable strategies to support resilient fisheries, modernized infrastructure, and long-term economic vitality.

When I stepped into this role four years ago, I dreamed of helping spark a bigger conversation about how we ensure access to local, sustainable seafood for generations to come. Thanks to the dedication of our team, partners, and funders, that vision is becoming reality.

It’s a big undertaking, but it sits at the very heart of MBFT’s mission. We’re excited to share this work with you—stay tuned for the report release and webinar presentation this August.