MARINE POLICY · SCIENCE · MANAGEMENT
Better decisions.
Sustainable fisheries.
Healthier oceans.
Fathom helps agencies, foundations, NGOs and fishing communities turn complex marine challenges into practical action.
Explore our workIndependent expertise. Shared progress.
SELECTED CLIENTS, FUNDERS & PARTNERS
Legacy FundEnvironmental
Defense FundThe Nature
ConservancyCDFWOcean Protection
CouncilPackardBuildersNFWF
OUR EXPERTISE
Science and policy,
put to work.
Sound fisheries management takes more than good science. It takes an understanding of the law, meaningful engagement and the capacity to see complex projects through.
Policy & legal analysis
Clarifying legal considerations and developing practical pathways for marine policy and management reform.
Project management
Managing complex initiatives, coordinating technical teams and keeping partners focused on shared objectives.
Fisheries data & technology
Supporting electronic monitoring, reporting and the modernization of fisheries information systems.
Engagement & funding
Connecting agencies, fishing communities, NGOs and funders to advance well-informed, achievable solutions.
RECENT WORK
Moving fisheries
management forward.
From California’s fisheries to a global community of monitoring practitioners, our work connects research with implementation.
Modernizing fisheries
data collection
Management and oversight of electronic monitoring and reporting pilots, alongside modernization of California’s recreational fisheries survey.
Explore project
The initiative tests electronic tools in the passenger fishing vessel, market squid, Dungeness crab and set gillnet fleets. It also supports a transition from paper forms to electronic data entry for the California Recreational Fisheries Survey.
Climate-ready
fisheries management
Management and oversight of initiatives strengthening stock assessments, management strategy evaluation and stakeholder engagement.
Explore project
Work spans barred sand bass, white seabass and California halibut, together with quantitative decision support, peer review and fisheries management planning. Fathom also holds a direct OPC grant supporting part of the barred sand bass work.
Connecting the
EM4.fish community
Management of a platform for sharing knowledge, experience and developments in fisheries electronic monitoring and reporting.
Visit EM4.fishRESEARCH · WRITING · OUTREACH
Data Modernization Working Group
Completed research, writing and outreach supporting a group of NGOs advancing data modernization in fisheries.
POLICY & TECHNOLOGY · THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Vessel tracking in California
Development of a paper examining legal, practical and technical considerations as California looks to implement vessel tracking in Dungeness crab and other fisheries.
ABOUT FATHOM
Experience across
science, law and policy.
Huff McGonigal founded Fathom Consulting in 2006 to help advance practical solutions for marine and fisheries management.
His experience spans Environmental Defense Fund, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. With a background in marine science and a law degree from Lewis & Clark, he brings a broad perspective to the challenges facing ocean managers and fishing communities.
Connect with HuffLET’S TALK