Why we FISH FORWARD
A look back and ahead as we round the year
It’s 2026 already! And FISH FORWARD is approaching its one year anniversary. Thank you to all of our subscribers and readers for joining us on this journey and leaning into the unique intersection of culinary art, community, and ocean advocacy!!
When we started this journey, the goal was simple: a fun, collaborative project of hope for the future of our oceans and seafood that bridges the gap between the fishermen on the ocean and the seafood on our plates. As we start a new year, we look back at the faces, the flavors, and the stories that defined 2025. From the salt-sprayed decks of the FV Pegasus and FV Pinnacle to the shared laughter at our Feast of 7 Fishes brunch, the ‘Why’ behind Fish Forward has never been clearer.
We’ve been astounded by what we’ve seen over the years managing fisheries from the tropical waters of the Caribbean to the icy Bering Sea. We’ve seen collapses of populations like crab and cod related to climate change, of course, but also have seen fish stocks rebound with proper management, and have witnessed the stunning resilience and adaptability of coastal communities and fishermen. Most of our knowledge is technical, but we want to bring these stories of hope and also techniques for change to a wider audience.
From our first post - Welcome to FISH FORWARD Mar 2025
And what became apparent early in our journey with this project is the power of COMMUNITY. It is woven throughout the posts featured in 2025, like Tied to Tide, Alaska is my Heartwood, and the first Seafood & Soul. And we look forward to nurturing it forward into 2026.
Big Moments in 2025
Launched FISH FORWARD in March - This dream we had about sharing the positive stories of U.S. seafood, the fishermen, and the many people inspired by the ocean came alive and it is doing exactly what we had hoped…building and celebrating community.
Live and in-person - Some of our favorite moments in 2025 were moving from behind a screen to meeting people in person, like Cynthia Nims at her cookbook signing, and gathered with inspiring people at the Feast of 7 Fishes brunch, on the air with Tom Douglas, and at the 🦈Seafood & Soul🦈 gatherings.
Hit 300 subscribers - We didn’t set a goal to have a big audience but we are so stinkin’ pleased you’re here!
Stuck with us - This statement from one of our guest writers, Michelle Stratton, moved us.
“[Fishing] taught me that humans are not separate from nature; we’re shaped by it. We respond to it. We belong to it. And if we are to survive the coming changes —climate, economic, social and ecological —we need to invest in the people who live close to these places, the places that feed us, that regulate our climate, that provide opportunities too many and complex to count. The communities doing the hard, seasonal, reciprocal work of coexistence will be our leaders in times of change, if we let them.”
Tied to Tide: Living in the Ecosystem That Sustains You. Michelle Stratton(Jun 25)
The “Top Hits” in 2025
Aside from the posts about who Aja and Jamie are, the posts hearted the most were:
And the posts with the most views were:
It’s clear y’all like sablefish (also called black cod) as it made both lists! And also looks like you like gifts, recipes, and knowing how to buy and cook your seafood.
Looking forward to 2026
Heading East - While last year we focused primarily on the West Coast and Alaska, we plan to continue our tour around the U.S. coastline featuring unique aspects or information from each region. We’ll start 2026 off in New England with a 🐟Fish School🐟 piece coming soon on state versus federal fisheries management. (Spoiler: fish aren’t good at staying within boundaries.)
MSA turns 50! - The foundation of what keeps U.S. fisheries sustainable, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, or MSA was signed into law in 1976. Let’s celebrate its successes and talk about how it might need to evolve for the future.
Let’s talk - New for 2026, we plan to hold some virtual discussion forums to talk about interesting fish topics and dive into some of the challenges ahead to brainstorm solutions.
More gatherings - We had so much fun with our 🦈Seafood & Soul🦈 gatherings and Feast of 7 Fishes brunch that we plan to do more. We will definitely have some gatherings in the PNW in 2026 and, depending on funding, we hope to branch out and join you in other parts of the country.
Thank you for being part of our story! We can’t wait to see what we discover together in the year ahead!
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"... have seen fish stocks rebound with proper management, and have witnessed the stunning resilience and adaptability of coastal communities and fishermen."
LOVE what you are doing! Thank you.