Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch

As Summer 2025 Mantell Fellows with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, Ashley Diedenhofen and Alyssa Boucher conducted a qualitative assessment of stakeholder engagement across the seafood supply chain. Through interviews with representatives from food service and retail companies, NGOs, financial institutions, and consulting firms, they examined how Seafood Watch ratings and reports are integrated into sourcing policies, procurement decisions, advising, and investments in the Blue Economy. The project aimed to provide the Seafood Watch team with actionable insights to strengthen communication and collaboration with users.

Their interviews focused on understanding businesses’ potential data needs for sustainability commitments and disclosure frameworks in response to growing demand for transparency on climate and biodiversity risks. They identified challenges — from limited traceability and varying invoice detail, to data gaps and product “swaps” — that can unintentionally downgrade sustainability ratings. Political and economic pressures, including tariffs and market instability, have also shifted some priorities away from sustainability. Yet promising trends emerged, including adoption of Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) standards for traceability, investments in novel technologies, and momentum toward regenerative aquaculture. These insights highlight both the complexity of the seafood supply chain and the opportunities for meaningful future progress.

Alyssa and Ashley’s Impacts:

  • Researched and synthesized biodiversity and climate disclosure frameworks to inform project scope
  • Designed strategic interview questions tailored to varied audiences
  • Conducted interviews with 12 seafood industry stakeholders, including sustainability specialists, buyers, distributors, and investment managers from organizations such as Whole Foods, Disney, The Cheesecake Factory, Pacific Catch, The Nature Conservancy, and CI Ventures
  • Analyzed interview findings to identify common barriers and opportunities in sustainable seafood sourcing
  • Delivered a final written report and presentation with recommendations to the Seafood Watch team

Alyssa Boucher

“Through my fellowship, I had the opportunity to connect with professionals across the seafood industry and receive guidance from experienced mentors, giving me insight into how businesses can drive environmental change. This experience helped me uncover my interest in corporate sustainability and encouraged me to continue exploring how I might contribute to sustainability and ocean conservation.”

Alyssa Boucher, Environmental Studies and Geography, '27

Student headshot

“It has been such a meaningful experience to be part of this fellowship and Seafood Watch with my mentee. I learned just as much as I shared, whether it was making new connections in the field or seeing the seafood supply chain from a fresh perspective. Watching Alyssa (my mentee) grow in confidence throughout the informational interview process was especially rewarding. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentee or experience!”

Ashley Diedenhofen, MESM 2026, Coastal Resource Management & Business and Sustainability