BOSTON – March 11, 2011 – The Administration of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has submitted the names of six nominees for the open positions on the New England Fisheries Management Council.
In a letter from Lieutenant Governor TIm Murray to Eric Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Governor Patrick nominated six individuals to the Council.
The text of Lieutenant Governor Murray's letter follows:
March 10, 2011
Mr. Eric Schwaab
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Room 14636
Silver Spring, MD 20910
ATTN: William Chappell
Dear Mr. Schwaab,
On behalf of Governor Deval L. Patrick, I am submitting the following six individuals as nominees for the four vacant at-large seats on the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). Included are the completed application kits for the nominees.
Governor Patrick's selections were made from a list of candidates who responded to the efforts of the Commonwealth's Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) to solicit interest in the Council positions. Those efforts included announcement over the Division's email listserv, posting on the MarineFisheries website, and outreach by MarineFisheries staff to potentially qualified candidates. Those nominated are eligible by reason of occupational or other experience, scientific expertise, or training, thereby making them knowledgeable and experienced in ways related to the fishery resources of New England.
For the at-large seat currently occupied by James J. Fair, Jr. of Massachusetts, Governor Patrick nominates in order of preference:
Laura Foley Ramsden. Ms. Ramsden is co-owner of a fourth generation seafood processing company in New Bedford founded over 100 years ago by her great-grandfather. Starting at the age of 15, she made an effort to learn every job in the plant from production to marketing, culminating in co-ownership in 2005. Her work experience provides her with a unique view on the economic impact fisheries management measures have on the marketability of New England seafood. With an eye towards the future, she seeks to find a balance between a healthy marine ecosystem and healthy fishing communities. Foley Fish has been an active participant in fishery management, involved with both the Groundfish Advisory Panel and the Highly Migratory Species Panel, advocating for continued research and gear modifications to minimize impact on the ecosystem. If chosen, Ms. Ramsden would be the first woman recommended by a Massachusetts Governor and appointed to the Council.
James M. Kendall. Mr. Kendall desires to bring his experience as a former fisherman, industry consultant, and that of a past Council member to work towards the development of a sustainable industry, resources, and ecosystem. He previously served as a member of the New England Fisheries Management Council, having completed his second term in 2003. He is Executive Director of the New Bedford Seafood Coalition and the owner of a seafood consulting company. He has nearly 50 years of direct involvement with New England fishery issues having served on the Massachusetts Fisheries Recovery Commission and the New England Commercial Fishing Law Enforcement Working Group, as well as being a founding member and the first president of the Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership.
Daniel L. Georgianna. Dr. Georgianna has studied the fisheries of New England for over 35 years. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Economics, at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he has taught since 1978. His fields of concentration include marine resource economics. Having lived among fishermen in New Bedford and Fairhaven, he has an acute awareness of the issues and challenges in fisheries management. He has degrees in mathematics and economics from the College of the Holy Cross and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, respectively. Dr. Georgianna has served on several technical and advisory committees supporting the Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and is currently a member of the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee. He has worked as principle investigator in numerous fisheries related research projects and is author or co-author to an extensive list of
journal articles, reports, book chapters, and other publications.
For the at-large seat currently occupied by John W. Pappalardo of Massachusetts, Governor Patrick nominates in order of preference:
Thomas D. Dempsey. Mr. Dempsey has been the Policy Director for the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association (CCCHFA) and the Assistant Director of the Cape Cod Fisheries Trust. Through his dual roles with the CCCHFA, he has had extensive experience in many aspects of the regulatory process in a wide range of commercial fisheries as well as experience in the development of innovative programs addressing the changing needs of the diverse fishing communities the CCCHFA serves. In addition to part time commercial fishing experience, Tom has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology from Dartmouth College, and a master's degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Mr. Dempsey is interested in finding solutions to management problems that balance the needs of the New England fishing businesses with the continued restoration of the resource on which
these businesses depend.
Stephen P. Welch. Mr. Welch has 34 years of fishing experience including gillnetting, dragging, lobstering, longlining, and pot fishing. Currently, he fishes out of the South Shore, New Bedford, and Gloucester ports. He is a certified vessel safety instructor from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and holds a 100 Ton Captains license. Mr. Welch is a former groundfish, monkfish, and essential fish habitat advisor for the Council. He has been involved in cooperative research projects for monkfish, groundfish, gear selectivity, and marine mammal entanglement. Through his fishing career and involvement in the management process, he has developed positive working relationships with industry members throughout the coast. He desires to bring his own and his fellow fishermen's experiences to the table.
James J. Fair, Jr. Mr. Fair is completing his first term as a Council member, where he also served on the scallop, groundfish, habitat/ecosystem, skate/whiting, and scallop survey committees. Prior to that he was engaged as a fisheries consultant after retiring from a career at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries spanning more than three decades. Mr. Fair began his career as a professional biologist researching lobster and diadromous finfish such as salmon. His work as a Deputy Director has afforded Mr. Fair with in-depth and first-hand knowledge of all sectors of the fishing industry including all gear types employed in the New England fisheries. He
was a pragmatic and competent regulator with proven ability to work with constituent groups to improve fisheries management strategies. He is highly familiar with the region's living marine resources as a life- long fisherman and career biologist. Mr. Fair has also worked closely with private groups as a consultant to provide information on fisheries resources with respect to ocean management.
For the at-large seat currently occupied by Mary Beth Nickell-Tooley of Maine, Governor Patrick nominates in order of preference:
Stephen P. Welch. See above.
James P. Fair. See above.
Daniel L. Georgianna. See above.
In the event that additional candidates are needed to meet the minimum of three individuals for each vacancy because of prior selection, Governor Patrick also nominates in order of preference:
Laura F. Ramsden. See above.
James M. Kendall. See above.
For the at-large seat currently occupied by Michael P. Leary of New Hampshire, Governor Patrick nominates in order of preference:
James P. Fair. See above.
Stephen P. Welch. See above.
Daniel L. Georgianna. See above
In the event that additional candidates are needed to meet the minimum of three individuals for each vacancy because of prior selection, Governor Patrick also nominates in order of preference:
Thomas D. Dempsey. See above.
Laura F. Ramsden. See above.
James M. Kendall. See above.
These six individuals meet the requirements listed in Section 302(b)(2)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. All have convinced me of their commitment to improving fisheries management in New England and to assist the Council in rebuilding, maintaining and managing marine resources so important to the economic vitality of the Massachusetts fishing industry.
Sincerely,
Timothy P. Murray
Acting Governor
cc:
Secretary Richard Sullivan,
EEA Commissioner Mary Griffin,
DFG Director Paul Diodati,
DMF Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission