Growing up in Southern California, Santa Barbara’s Stephanie Mutz was once on her way to becoming a marine biology professor, but when the 2008 recession hit, she wound up as a rookie deckhand on a fishing boat. Turns out, it suited her, and she worked towards getting a boat of her own. Not long after, Stephanie began showing up at restaurants to sell her catch. Now, Stephanie harvests urchins and spiny lobsters along the California coast with a focus on quality over quantity: harvesting less for more value with a conservation focus. Some folks are just meant for a life on the ocean, and Stephanie is one of those lucky few.