Stories / Blog

For many, trawling remains a dirty word, and not without good reason. 

One particular trawler, however, is helping change that in dramatic ways—while also changing the way Monterey Bay is being fished, managed, and understood. Meet the Noah’s Ark based in Moss Landing, CA.

Many lessons were soaked up by local fishermen who participated in last weekend’s first annual Fisherman First Aid and Safety Training (FFAST) hosted by Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust in partnership with California and Oregon Sea Grant. Keep reading to learn more!

The Community Seafood Program was founded amid the COVID pandemic with a win-win ambition: give local fisherfolk steady demand for their catch in unstable times, and provide those dealing with food insecurity fresh, local, nutritious fish. 

Al Siekert, Founder of Al & Friends, prepping fish for Sunday's brunch. Photo courtesy of Al & Friends.

Disaster can be…good. 

Yes, that seems counterintuitive. But talk to insiders about the closure of 2023’s salmon season and that sentiment surfaces. T

Fishing is flat-out hard. In addition to being able to find the fish they want to target, commercial fishermen must be part oceanographer, part meteorologist, part marine scientist, part businessperson, and part mechanic. They must be ready for anything to go wrong and hopeful that everything goes right. 

When it came time to properly celebrate the return of Dungeness crab to local markets and menus after its fishery has been closed for so long—and share an incredible crab recipe—the place to go came to mind immediately: Cafe Fina on Fisherman’s Wharf. After all, Cafe Fina does Dungeness in all sorts of different ways. 

A lot of delicious flavors are simmering in any pot of Monterey Bay cioppino. That said, around Monterey Bay, some of cioppino’s most intriguing elements are tasty in a different way, namely local history and family heritage. Keep reading to find out more and link to a delicious (and famous) recipe!

In the past, this time of year would be when many Monterey Bay locals start planning their menus for Thanksgiving. Dungeness crab—a West Coast seafood delicacy—often tops the list. Whether it’s domoic acid caused by warmer water, the potential risk of entanglements with migrating whales, or tricky negotiations between fishermen and their buyers—the holiday season no longer guarantees fresh crab.

With Halloween here, it presents a timely moment to explore how superstitions help prevent spooky—and outright scary—situations on the sea. One is particularly Hallow’s Eve appropriate: Black cats, it turns out, are good luck to have onboard. Sailors with tattoos won’t drown (crosses and heart tattoos recommended), but uttering the word “pig” onboard invites bad luck (go for “sow” or “hog”). Read more to learn about some fun superstitions out at sea!

The featured local delicacies at Pacific Pet Treats are delicious, but not for humans! They’re made specifically for your pets - healthy and sustainable seafood treats, like cod skins, halibut chews, and salmon chips. Pacific Pet Treats, located in downtown Monterey started with a sequence of inspirations that unfolded organically—on, around, and very much connected to Monterey Bay and its fishermen. Learn more by reading the full article here!

The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust is excited to have one of its co-founders and a west coast fishery expert, Melissa Mahoney, as our new Executive Director. Melissa was instrumental in coordinating early efforts among key community leaders to engage and support the genesis of the Trust. Since then, Melissa has acted as an Advisor and a Board member, participating in the Trust’s growth, challenges, and successes along the way.

Looking for delicious, fresh, local, and sustainable fish tacos? We have some suggestions. Maybe it’s time for a culinary tour in your own town!

In the Monterey Bay region, we are blessed with incredibly productive farmlands combined with an abundance and diversity of seafood. Farmers and fishermen have been feeding our community and the world for decades, and there are many similarities between the two livelihoods. Our team met with staff from California FarmLink to discuss the similarities between farmers and fishermen and the challenges they face and to explore potential opportunities for collaboration. Click here to keep reading and learn more!

The seafood proved flat-out spectacular, a rich and complex spread. There was smoked king salmon collar and black cod, tender abalone served on the shell with bright edible flowers, and seafood boudin, a French-style sausage packed with Dungeness crab, rock crab, and rockfish. The show at hand was the second installment of the new Get Hooked! Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust dinner series.

The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust's “Get Hooked!” dinner series is coming to Santa Cruz on May 18th! Colectivo Felix will host an outdoor Peruvian-inspired seafood and rice event to benefit our Community Seafood Program.