Paul Diodati, Chair of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, has announced the selection of Robert E. Beal as the Commission's new Executive Director. Mr. Beal has been with the Commission for more than 15 years and has served as the Director for the Interstate Fishery Management Program for the past 10 years.
"After a thorough search and interview process, Bob clearly demonstrated he possesses the leadership skills, expertise and management qualities required to lead the Commission as it enters into a new phase of strategic planning and cooperative partnerships among the states, interstate commissions, and federal agencies," stated Mr. Diodati. "Bob will be an outstanding representative of the states to the Congress and to the commercial, recreational and environmental stakeholders that depend on our effective stewardship of Atlantic coastal fishery resources."
In accepting the position, Mr. Beal stated, "I am honored and privileged to serve as the Commission's Executive Director and work for people I admire and for a cause I feel so strongly about. It's been nearly 20 years since passage of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act and the states, through the Commission, have achieved many impressive accomplishments from species rebuilding, improved data collection, to sound stock assessments for data poor species such as American eel and shad and river herring. I am excited about the opportunity to work with the states, in concert with our federal partners, to build upon these successes and address the challenges that are ahead."
The Commission was formed over 70 years ago by the 15 Atlantic coast states to assist in managing and conserving their shared coastal fishery resources. With the recognition that fish do not adhere to political boundaries, the states formed an Interstate Compact, which was approved by the U.S. Congress in 1942. The states have found that their mutual interest in sustaining healthy coastal fishery resources is best promoted by working together cooperatively, in collaboration with the federal government. With this approach, the states uphold their collective fisheries management responsibilities in a cost-effective, timely, and responsive fashion.