Contact: Scott Smullen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/30/97
U.S. Commerce Secretary William A. Daley today announced the appointment of 30 members to eight regional fishery management councils that work in partnership with the federal government to manage the nation's marine fishery resources.
The councils, established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, prepare fishery management plans for marine fish stocks in their respective geographical areas of responsibility. The management plans are submitted for review by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service, and approved by the Secretary of Commerce.
Each year about one-third of the 71 voting members appointed to obligatory and at-large seats complete their terms. Selections are made to replace outgoing members from candidates nominated by the governors of the affected states. Council members are appointed to three-year terms and may serve no more than three consecutive terms (in some cases, appointments also are made to complete unexpired terms).
A new council seat was created in October 1996, when President Clinton signed into law amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act that, among other things, called for a member of an Indian tribe to serve as a voting member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. James E. Harp, policy representative of natural resources for the Quinault Indian Nation, will serve a three-year term through August 2000.
The councils represent diverse fisheries interests and are composed of members whose combined knowledge and experience represent a balance of commercial and recreational fisheries interests for each geographical area concerned.
Note: * indicates the individual is being reappointed. ** indicates the individual is being appointed to a seat vacant due tothe resignation of a former member; at this time, the individual is being appointed to serve a three-year term through August 2000.New England Council -- The New England Council includes members from the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats James M. Kendall Frances W. Blount, Jr. Executive Director Owner/Operator/President New Bedford Seafood Coalition Frances Fleet New Bedford, Mass. Peace Dale, R.I. Barbara D. Stevenson* D. Douglas Hopkins Portland fish Exchange Senior Staff Attorney Portland, Maine Environmental Defense Fund Woodstock, Conn.
Mid-Atlantic Council -- The Mid-Atlantic Council includes members from the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats James E. Douglas, Jr. ** Gary A. Caputi* Newport News, Va. Publisher Big Game Fishing Journal Point Pleasant, N.J. At-large seats Robert Hamilton, Jr.* Nancy M. Targett* Owner/Operator Associate Dean F/V "Miss Nancy" University of Delaware Greenport, N.Y. Graduate College of Marine Studies Lewes, Del.
South Atlantic Council -- The South Atlantic Council includes members from the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats Juan M. Sanchez Belinda F. Flanigan* Executive Director President/Operator Monroe County Commercial Chimney Creek Fishing Camp, Inc. Fishermen, Inc. Chimney Charters, Inc. Marathon, Fla. Tybee Island, Ga. At-large seats Obadiah F. Love, Jr.* James S. Moffitt, Jr.* Owner/Operator Chief Executive Officer Love's Seafood Restaurant Guilford Packaging and Fiber Savannah, Ga. High Point, N.C.
Caribbean Council -- The Caribbean Council includes members from the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The 1997 appointee is:
Obligatory seat At-large seat Patricia A. Skov* Miguel A. Sanabria* Skov Fishing Company President St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Dorado Marine Center Dorado, Puerto Rico
Gulf of Mexico Council -- The Gulf of Mexico Council includes members from the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats Robert L. Shipp* Myron J. Fischer** Professor and Chair of Charterboat Owner/Operator Marine Sciences Cutoff, La. University of South Alabama Mobile, Ala. Karl J. Lessard* Owner/Operator Captain Bee Fisheries Marathon, Fla. At-large seats Albert L. King, Sr.* Harolyn Kay Williams Gulf Shores, Ala. Pascagoula, Miss.
Pacific Council -- The Pacific Council includes members from the states of California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats James G. Caito* Hans D. Radtke Caito Fisheries, Inc. Yachats, Ore. Fort Bragg, Calif. At-large seats Robert C. Fletcher* Robert D. Alverson President Executive Director Sportsfishing Association Fishing Vessel Owners' Assoc. of California Seattle, Wash. San Diego, Calif. New seat (Tribal Indian Representative) James E. Harp Policy Representative for Natural Resources Quinault Indian Nation Taholah, Wash.
North Pacific Council -- The North Pacific Council includes members from the states of Alaska and Washington. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats Richard B. Lauber* Joseph M. Kyle, Jr. Alaska Manager and Vice President Pacific Associates, Inc Pacific Seafood Processors Assoc. Juneau, Alaska Juneau, Alaska David L. Fluharty* Research Associate Professor School of Marine Affairs College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle, Wash.
Western Pacific Council -- The Western Pacific Council includes members from the state of Hawaii, the American-flagged Pacific islands of American Samoa and Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. The 1997 appointees are:
Obligatory seats Aitofele T. Sunia Judith P. Guthertz* Legislative Counsel Professor of Public Administration and Legal Studes Legislature of American Samoa Mangilao, Guam Pago Pago, American Samoa James D. Cook* Chair Pacific Ocean Producers Honolulu
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