Brett Tolley
Pronouns: he/him
Formerly NAMA's Program Director, Brett now serves as Senior Advisor on campaigns and programs.
With deep experience in advocacy and organizing, Brett continues to support NAMA’s mission while also co-founding and managing Chatham Harvesters, a fishermen-owned cooperative that connects 600+ fish share members directly to locally-caught seafood.
Brett comes from a four-generation commercial fishing family out of Cape Cod, MA and has worked in the fishing industry hanging nets, crewing boats of various gear types, and shellfishing commercially. Brett received a degree in International Relations from Elon University with a focus on Social Justice and International Trade.
Prior to NAMA, Brett worked as an advocate and community organizer in Brooklyn NY, fighting in housing court for low-income tenants and organizing campaigns around immigrant and human rights. He wrote and produced an award-winning documentary about the migrant experience along the U.S./Mexico border titled, "Dying to Get In". He was also selected to the We Are All Brooklyn Fellowship Program and completed the Rockwood Leadership Institute's 'Art of Leadership' program.
Local fishermen and fishing communities are disproportionately left out of the policy decisions that impact their lives. This undermines our coastal communities, the health of the ocean, access to healthy food, and ensuring a fair price to fishermen. We can do better. I envision a future where fishing families have a level playing field and where they are celebrated for their role in protecting the health of the ocean as well as their role in feeding people. I envision fishing families cross-collaborating with other peoples' movements for justice and where people of all incomes have access to healthy and locally caught seafood.