About Us
Connecting Fishermen with their Communities
The Mission of the ACSF
The Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries (ACSF) advocates for the heritage and economic value of fishing to California Coastal Communities. To preserve and enhance that value, the Alliance offers a broadly representative educational and promotional voice for waterfront communities to work constructively with interested agencies, individuals, and other marine protection organizations in order to ascertain and guarantee that:
(1) the best and most current oceanographic, socio-economic, and fisheries science is accurately compiled;
(2) this science is readily available to the public for use in crafting and promoting public policy;
(3) the linkage between healthy sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, and coastal communities is firmly established in the public mind.
We will also expand our areas of interest to include a wide body of constituents’ needs, specifically: all people who fish, all public or private agencies with an interest in fishing, all non-profit marine protection agencies, and any persons with an interest in fishing, preservation of traditional fishing culture and coastal and marine conservation.
This means that the ACSF will engage in the issues of our time that affect fishermen and their communities, such as: marine spatial planning; offshore aquaculture and wind energy projects; marine protected areas; programs to encourage new entrants to our fisheries; education in the laws and dynamics of fishery management; actively correcting mistaken opinions regarding fishing practices and sustainability; provide funding and support for science products; and, conducting polling to determine core public values for fishery and ocean environmental issues.
ACSF membership is comprised representatives of agencies and associations in the Central Coast of California region. Particularly, each commercial fishing association will select a representative to serve on the ACSF Board. Alternates are also allowed. The Board also has a “Port Community” seat designated for a representative of the political agency that manages a port or harbor. Other representatives include from fishing industry organizations that have a strong presence in the Central Coast. Finally, the ACSF invites representatives from the major recreational fishing organizations in the region. The ACSF holds its annual meeting in late October-early November, with most other meetings held by conference call or electronically. As a 501-c-3 not-for profit organization, the ACSF reports its activities yearly to the IRS, and donations to it are tax deductible (Tax ID #72-1582491) .
ACSF Board of Directors
Co-Chairs
Frank Emerson, Carmel River Steelhead Association/Recreational
Alan Alward, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization/Commercial
Directors
Frank Emerson, Co-Chair, Recreational Fisheries (Carmel River Steelhead Association)
Sheri Hafer, Treasurer, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization
Bill Ward, Primary, Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
David Kirk, Alternate, Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Tom Hafer, Primary, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization
Jeremiah O’Brien, Alternate, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization
Mike Ricketts, Primary, Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Tom Hart, Primary, Moss Landing Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Tim Obert, Primary, Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Mike Hubbell, Alternate, Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Jim Anderson, Primary, Pillar Point Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Chris Voss, Primary, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara
Mark Fina, Primary, California Wetfish Producers Association
Diane Pleschner-Steele, Alternate, California Wetfish Producers Association
Jim Martin, Recreational Fishermen of America
Vacant, Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels
Blake Andeson, Primary, Santa Cruz Port District
Consultant to the Board of Directors
Steve Scheiblauer, Marine Alliances Consulting
Supporting Associations & Organizations
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Fishermen’s Association of Moss Landing
Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Southern California Trawlers Association
Fishermen’s Alliance
Western Fishboat Owners Association
California Wetfish Producers Association
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association
San Diego Fishermen’s Working Group
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association
Port San Luis Harbor District
City of Morro Bay Harbor
City of Monterey Harbor
Moss Landing Harbor District
Santa Cruz Port District
Pillar Pt. Harbor, San Mateo County Harbor District