May 22, 2013 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Alexandria, VA – Mr. William J. Goldsborough, Mr. Thomas W. McCloy, Dr. Malcolm M. Rhodes, Mr. Robert E. Ross, Jr., Mr. Wayne Hettenbach Mr. Patrick Duggan, and Captain Dorothy Thumm were presented the Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence in Alexandria, Virginia for their contributions to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast. Mr. Goldsborough, Mr. McCloy, Dr. Rhodes and Mr. Ross received their awards in the management and policy category, while Mr. Hettenbach, Mr. Duggan, and Captain Thumm received awards in law enforcement category.
“Every year a great many people contribute to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast. The Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding efforts by professionals who have made a difference in the way we manage and conserve our fisheries,” said ASMFC Chair, Paul J. Diodati of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “This evening, we honor several individuals for their contributions to the management and conservation of Atlantic coast fisheries.”
Management & Policy Contributions
William J. Goldsborough, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
For 30 years, Mr. William J. Goldsborough has been on the front lines of fisheries management, advocating for science-based decision-making and the integration of ecological services into the Commission’s species management programs. As senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Mr. Goldsborough has been a steadfast voice supporting the conservation of Chesapeake Bay fisheries, effectively opposing legislation and other actions that might harm the Bay’s resources. He played a central role in striped bass recovery beginning with the implementation of Maryland’s moratorium in 1985 and through to the development of a conservation-based approach to reopening the fishery in 1990.
Passionate about the significance of healthy habitat on healthy fisheries, he advanced the importance of habitat as a critical common concern among fishermen. At the regional level, he brought together a diverse group of commercial and recreational fishermen, representing 16 fishing organizations, to adopt codes for protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Coastwide, he has left an indelible mark on the Commission’s Habitat Program as one of the earliest members of the Habitat Committee and its longest serving chair, having served in that position for 10 years. Under his leadership and participation, the Committee has developed habitat sections for many of our FMPs and released numerous publications – all of which have elevated our understanding of habitat and its critical link to supporting abundant fisheries.
He has been a tireless and articulate advocate for the need to address Atlantic menhaden’s ecological role in the Commission’s management process. He was instrumental in the development and adoption of Amendment 1 in 2001, which formally recognized menhaden as an important forage species. He helped plan and conduct a 2004 menhaden workshop, which highlighted the various ecological services menhaden provide and the need for ecological reference points in managing the resource. He was instrumental in developing the Chesapeake Bay reduction cap, beginning in 2006, and prompting a five-year Chesapeake Bay population research program. Over the past few years, Mr. Goldsborough vigorously campaigned for the development of ecological reference points. The recent adoption of interim reference points and a new management program for Atlantic menhaden are, in part, due to his efforts.
Mr. Thomas W. McCloy, New Jersey Marine Fisheries Administration
Mr. Thomas W. McCloy has spent his entire career, now extending into its 40th year, working for the betterment of New Jersey’s marine resources and the fisheries they support. He began his career in the early 1970s as a biologist, conducting some of the first comprehensive population and habitat assessments for the state’s various shellfish resources. He was promoted to Bureau Chief for New Jersey Marine Fisheries in 1990 and Administrator for New Jersey Marine Fisheries Administration in 2001.
In the 1990s, Mr. McCloy became engaged in broader coastal resources issues, serving as his state’s administrative proxy to both the Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. At the Commission, he played a key role in developing many of the Commission’s initial FMPs in response to the requirements of the newly enacted Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act. These documents serve as the foundation for much of the Commission’s management policies today.
For the past 12 years as Marine Fisheries Administrator, Mr. McCloy has been a key link between upper management within the state’s resource agency and its diverse fisheries constituency. His expertise and experience has guided these groups in ensuring that the appropriate and prudent actions are taken to the benefit of the resource first and the fisheries that rely on them second.
However, Mr. McCloy’s greatest and most enduring success has been the mentorship of his staff. He demands the best of them, expecting excellence, professionalism, and a commitment to safeguard fisheries resources for their sustainable use. In turn, he invests significant time in training staff on how to fairly evaluate the issues before them, listen carefully to all affected parties, understand the full scope of the problem, and use the best scientific information to make an informed decision. Due to this mentorship, a good number of his staff has served in important leadership roles, from chairing the majority of the Commission management boards to serving as vital contributors on species technical and stock assessment committees as well as the Management & Science Committee.
Dr. Malcolm Rhodes, South Carolina Governor Appointee to the Commission
A passionate steward of Atlantic coast fisheries and their habitats, Dr. Malcolm Rhodes has served as South Carolina’s Governor Appointee to the Commission for eight years. From the outset, he has brought his leadership and expertise to bear, chairing both the Shad & River Herring Management Board and the Governors’ Appointees. He has also been a longstanding and active participant on the Administrative Oversight Committee and Executive Committee – two primary committees which set Commission administrative policies and provide guidance to the Executive Director on personnel, fiscal, and organizational matters.
As Chair of the Shad and River Herring Management Board, Dr. Rhodes led the states through the complex process of developing American shad sustainable fisheries plans for specific river systems. In doing so, he ushered in a new model and standard of fisheries conservation by turning the traditional, "Fish until you see there is a problem, " management approach to a more precautionary and enlightened "Don’t fish unless you can prove there won’t be a problem " mindset.
A true gentleman conservationist, Dr. Rhodes’ calm and kind demeanor have enabled him to provide sound leadership to the Commission as it works to sustain and rebuild Atlantic coast fish stocks.
Robert J. Ross, Jr., NOAA Fisheries Northeast
Mr. Robert J. Ross, Jr., began his career in fisheries management 40 years ago as a student working in a NOAA Fisheries lab testing fish samples for heavy metals and contaminants. From there, he became a well-known port agent collecting important fisheries landings and biological data throughout New England. His outstanding work ethic and affable manner led to steady promotions within NOAA Fisheries from including a stint with the State/Federal and Constituent Office and later working in the Northeast Regional Office.
Mr. Ross has been an active and engaged participant in the Commission’s fisheries management process for the last 15 years. His leadership and collaborative efforts have been critical to the continued success of several cooperatively managed species, including spiny dogfish, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and winter flounder. But, by far, his greatest contributions have been in the management of American lobster. As a member of the American Lobster Plan Development Team and Management Board, Mr. Ross has played a vital role in ensuring the sustainable management of this valuable species coastwide. He worked closely with the lobster industry, scientists, and state partners to craft a unique and cutting-edge approach to sustainable lobster management which involves the implementation of area-based eligibility and trap transferability. His analytical abilities yielded important analyses of federal actions in support of Commission management goals and he drafted and published countless federal actions to complement state management measures for the American lobster fishery. Despite this program’s increasing complexity, he has remained committed to its success and health and vibrancy of the resource and industry it supports.
Law Enforcement Contributions
Mr. Wayne Hettenbach and Mr. Patrick Duggan, U.S. Department of Justice
Mr. Wayne Hettenbach and Patrick Duggan are two members of a joint NOAA Fisheries/New Jersey Law Enforcement Team, who recently capped off a five-year investigation, ending with the conviction of seven defendants on 37 individual counts for trafficking in illegal oysters. The defendants, all from New Jersey, were overharvesting oysters from the Delaware Bay and then falsely recording their harvest on state and federal records. Further, the Delaware dealer who sold the illegal oysters helped cover up the overharvest by filing false state and federal health documentation. It is estimated that in some years the overharvest exceeded the fishermen’s quota by more than 60%. All told, the defendants illegally obtained nearly 15,000 bushels of oysters from the Delaware Bay at a fair market value in excess of $1.2 million.
New Jersey officers initiated the investigation, with NOAA Fisheries joining soon after. The agencies worked hand-in-hand to covertly record the offloading and transfer of illegal oysters over state lines to Delaware. This surveillance, combined with information gained from coordinated surprise inspections and simultaneous search warrants, yielded tens of thousands of documents. For well over a year, state and federal agents and prosecutors worked to assemble the necessary evidence, prepare their case, and conduct hearings and testimony. Ultimately, their tireless work, exemplary interagency coordination, and dedication to preserving our natural resources, led to the successful conviction of an extensive criminal ring that had been depleting a vital, keystone species in the Delaware Bay.
With this investigation and further conviction, the Team sent a clear message that state and federal law enforcement officers stand ready to uphold our collective stewardship responsibilities and ensure that all harvest is carried out in accordance to the laws protecting those resources.
The remaining members of the NOAA/New Jersey Law Enforcement Team, who were unable to attend last night’s event, will be presented their awards later this year. They are Special Agent James Cassin Jr., Special Agent Jeffrey Ray, Captain Mark Canale, Conservation Officer Craig James, Conservation Officer Jeremy Trembley, and Lieutenant Karl Yunghans.
Captain Dorothy Thumm (retired), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Captain Dorothy Thumm has dedicated her 40-year career to the protection and sustainable management of Atlantic coast fishery resources. A trailblazer in her field, she was the fourth woman to be hired as an environmental conservation officer by New York in 1980 and the first woman to be promoted to Lieutenant and then later Captain after completing her FBI Academy training. She served as Commanding Officer of New York’s Marine Enforcement Unit from 2005 to 2013. An outstanding officer with an impeccable record, she worked collaboratively with the Bureau Marine Resources to target priority fishery enforcement needs, networking with a myriad of local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that fishery laws and regulations were properly enforced.
For the past seven years, Captain Thumm has been an active member of the Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee (LEC), providing valuable input at both the state and regional level on issues affecting high visibility species such as American lobster, Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass and tautog. Her strong leadership skills combined with her knowledge and understanding of fisheries and habitat issues were valuable assets to the Committee. A true team player, Captain Thumm represented the LEC on the Atlantic Sturgeon Board where she provided input, comments, and feedback on law enforcement issues. She also assisted in producing the Law Enforcement Committee’s document “Guidelines for Resource Managers on the Enforceability of Fishery Management Measures.”
Photo Caption (from left): ASMFC Awards Chair Jack Travelstead, Thomas McCloy, Wayne Hettenbach, Robert Ross, Malcolm Rhodes, Captain Dorothy Thumm, Patrick Duggan, ASMFC Chair Paul Diodati, and William Goldsborough