June 25, 2012 – The following was released by the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association:
Today the Commerce Department announced the most recent appointments to the New England Fishery Management Council, the decision-making body that oversees the development of federal fishery regulations for New England.
Maine’s small-boat, community-based fishermen will have a new voice representing them. Vincent Balzano, a third generation fisherman out of Portland Maine, has been appointed to replace Port Clyde fisherman and business operator Glen Libby.
“Glen has been an important advocate for the fishermen of Maine both on and off the Council and has been instrumental in ensuring the survival of the Maine inshore fleet,” said Ben Martens, Executive Director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, which Glen Libby helped establish in 2006. “We were happy to see NOAA’s Fisheries Service and the Commerce Department recognize the importance Maine inshore fishermen in the decision-making process. We are very excited to continue to work with Vincent and the other Maine representatives on the Council to develop common sense regulations to protect Maine’s iconic fishing fleet.”
“Being on the New England Fishery Management Council has been an incredible experience and I am honored that I was allowed to have that opportunity,” Said Glen Libby. “The Council has a lot of very important decisions to make in the near future and I’m happy that the small boats of Maine will continue to have a voice in these decisions. Vincent (Balzano) has worked hard to help build the Port Clyde Community Groundfish Sector and I’m excited to see what he can do at the Council.”
Mr. Libby continued by saying “I’m also looking forward to spending more time focusing on Port Clyde Fresh Catch and participating in the regulatory process from the other side of the table.” Port Clyde Fresh Catch is small-scale fishermen led processing facility focused on direct marketing of local, sustainable seafood.
Vincent Balzano, a longtime advocate for the Maine fleet, has been an active participant in the Council process for years serving on Advisory Panels for Groundfish, Habitat, and Whiting. He has also served as the Advisory Panel Chair for North Atlantic Shrimp at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. In response to the appointment, Mr. Blazano stated: “I’d just like to thank Glen for the years he spent on the Council and all the hard work he did for the Maine fleet. I’d also like to thank Governor Paul LePage for appointing me for this position. I know we have a lot of work to do and I hope to bring new energy and ideas to the process.”
Also appointed to the Council from Maine was Terry Alexander, a fisherman out of Portland, who is replacing James Odlin.