11/12/2024 - The Coronado Film Festival introduced me to some inspiring organizations, each making a unique impact in their field. From sustainable seafood sourcing to redwood conservation and open science, these companies stood out for their dedication to innovation, community, and sustainability. 

Here are a few of my favorites from the festival:

Dock to Dish

Featured in the documentary Fish & Men and based in Montauk, New York, Dock to Dish partners with over 100 local fishing boats to provide chefs with fresh, diverse seafood daily, emphasizing quality, traceability, and a commitment to preserving marine ecosystems over sheer volume and profitability.

Fish & Men dives deep into the often invisible yet powerful divide between supply-driven, local seafood operations and the traditional, demand-driven fishing industry that dominates much of the U.S. market. 

In Gloucester, one of America’s oldest fishing cities and a key focus of the documentary, fishermen face intense pressures to meet market demands for popular species like cod, which have become scarce due to overfishing and climate change. 

These species are heavily regulated by environmental agencies working to rebuild fish populations. The documentary highlights the environmental and economic strain placed on fishermen in regions like Gloucester, where they’re caught between needing to make a living and adhering to strict quotas to protect vulnerable fish populations.

I had a chance to interview Adam Darby, one of the directors of Fish & Men, and he dives deep into some of the intricacies of the government relationship with the fishermen in Gloucester. He described the delicate balance between protecting fish populations and preserving the livelihood of fishermen who rely on these increasingly scarce resources.

In contrast, Dock to Dish’s model champions a more sustainable approach by sourcing a variety of local fish and bycatch species (bycatch is the term for marine animals that are caught unintentionally by fishing gear and then discarded), embracing diversity rather than focusing solely on a few high-demand species. 

This approach not only reduces the pressure on overfished species but also supports local economies by keeping the seafood industry’s benefits within coastal communities. 

Through their partnership with chefs, Dock to Dish encourages culinary creativity, inviting chefs to celebrate the unique flavors and textures of lesser-known, locally sourced species.

The documentary ultimately shines a light on the benefits of this supply-driven approach, showing how Dock to Dish and similar organizations are fostering a shift toward more responsible and community-centered seafood sourcing. 

This is as a model for how sustainable practices can be woven into every stage of the supply chain, supporting both the ocean’s biodiversity and the people who rely on it.

North County Fishermen’s Market

I discovered North County Fishermen’s Market at the screening of Fish & Men at the Coronado Film Festival. 

During the event, I spoke with Chris Rov Costa from Discover California Seafood, who introduced me to this fantastic local market in Oceanside, California and mentioned his work fundraising for a San Diego Seafood: Then and Now. 

Inspired by the documentary, I took my daughter to the North County Fishermen’s Market to check it out, and the experience was eye-opening.

Located at Oceanside Harbor, the North County Fishermen’s Market embraces a sustainable, community-driven model similar to Dock to Dish. 

It offers fresh, locally sourced seafood directly from the fishermen—no middlemen, just quality seafood at fair prices. The market’s weekly catch varies based on season and availability, showcasing everything from rockfish and mackerel to sea urchins and bluefin tuna. 

Like Dock to Dish, this market promotes culinary creativity by encouraging consumers to enjoy diverse, lesser-known species rather than relying on high-demand, overfished options.

The atmosphere was lively and educational, with fishermen sharing stories and even dogs snacking on sardines from a special tank set up for them. After chatting with a few fishermen, I bought some rockfish caught just 200 feet away. They fileted right there and then made it into fish tacos for me and my daughter. It was a fun Sunday afternoon experience. 

The meal tasted richer knowing it was locally sourced and sustainable.

North County Fishermen’s Market exemplifies the same values highlighted in Fish & Men: supporting local economies, fostering sustainable seafood sourcing, and reconnecting consumers with the origin of their food. 

Like Dock to Dish, this market model demonstrates how a focus on supply-driven, responsible practices can benefit both the environment and the community. 

Save the Redwoods League

Another inspiring organization highlighted at the festival was Save the Redwoods League, featured in the documentary Giants Rising. As one of the oldest conservation organizations in the country, Save the Redwoods League has been protecting California’s redwood forests since 1918, safeguarding over 220,000 acres of these ancient trees. 

Giants Rising captures the deep relationship between these towering redwoods, their ecosystems, and the Yurok Native American tribe, who have lived alongside them for generations. The documentary urges audiences to recognize the importance of environmental restoration, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.

I had the chance to interview Lisa Landers, the director of Giants Rising, who emphasized the importance of empowering parks and natural reserves. She explained that preserving natural resources is essential—not only for biodiversity but also for the irreplaceable mental, physical, and emotional benefits they provide. 

This commitment to holistic conservation is shared by organizations like Save the Redwoods League and by the Yurok people, whose cultural practices and knowledge strengthen conservation efforts and ensure these forests continue to thrive for future generations.

Giants Rising also sheds light on an unprecedented collaboration between California State Parks and the Yurok Tribe, empowering the Yurok to apply ancestral techniques like controlled burns to restore redwood ecosystems and improve forest resilience. 

For the Yurok people, whose history is deeply connected to these lands, this collaboration is a powerful reclaiming of stewardship. Through this alliance, the tribe brings cultural traditions to the forefront of conservation efforts, creating jobs and reinforcing community bonds in the process.

The film goes further by exploring the mental health benefits of redwood forests, showing how these ancient trees provide calm and solace to visitors, serving as a transformative retreat from urban life. Watching Giants Rising made me wonder what more we could learn if additional resources were allocated to studying the redwoods’ effects on human health. 

These forests appear to hold untapped potential not only for conservation but also for enhancing human wellness.

Ultimately, the League’s work exemplifies how conserving spaces like these redwoods offers benefits far beyond environmental protection—supporting community health, preserving cultural identity, and enhancing emotional well-being in ways that are both timeless and transformative.

PLOS (Public Library of Science)

One of the standout discoveries I made at the Coronado Film Festival was through an early screening of Wild Hope: Mission Impossible, a documentary episode about Pat Brown, founder of Impossible Foods. Driven by the urgent need to combat climate change, Brown created plant-based meat alternatives as a sustainable solution to the environmental damage caused by traditional meat production, which is the world’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. 

But beyond his work in food innovation, Brown also founded PLOS (Public Library of Science), a nonprofit dedicated to making scientific research freely accessible to everyone.

Through PLOS, Brown created a platform for open science, allowing the public to access groundbreaking research on everything from health and climate change to economics and technology—without paywalls. 

What makes these articles especially reliable is that they’re written by experts who have spent years researching these topics, and each study is reviewed by other scientists before it’s published. 

Unlike news or opinion pieces, these research articles are based on hard data and rigorous testing, so you’re getting information straight from the source. It’s like having access to the foundation of knowledge, a powerful resource in today’s age of information.

I found this especially interesting in today’s AI-driven era, where tools like PLOS become even more powerful. For example, I recently tried out the PLOS search feature, looking up “ESG” to see what came up. 

Within moments, I found a study that would have been perfect for an article I’d previously written called Corporate Moral Dilemma. It was quick, seamless, and packed with useful insights. Platforms like PLOS and other open-access resources are increasingly important as we seek reliable information in a world where data can sometimes be hard to verify.

Brown’s vision for PLOS highlights how open-access science can empower people, enhance public understanding, and support informed discussions on today’s pressing issues. In an age of AI and misinformation, having accessible, trustworthy scientific resources like PLOS is a much-needed step forward.

These are the kinds of companies making a positive impact. They’re not just business models—they’re community-driven forces that enrich our lives, inspire us to think differently, and encourage us to engage with the world around us in a more meaningful way.

Let me know what you think in the comments!