Contact: Scott Smullen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/5/97
Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley announced today the appointment of Rick E. Marks of New Bern, N.C., to the state's obligatory seat on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The council is one of eight regional councils that work in partnership with the federal government to prepare management plans for marine fish stocks in offshore waters of their respective areas. Marks is Vice President of Government Affairs & Science for the North Carolina Fisheries Association.
President Clinton signed into law amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act on Oct. 11, 1996, that, among other things, revised procedures regarding appointment of members to the councils. As a result, the Mid-Atlantic Council gained one North Carolina obligatory seat and one seat for the state fisheries agency, for a total of 21 seats. Marks will complete a three-year term ending on Aug. 11, 1999.
The councils' fishery management plans are reviewed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service, and approved by the Secretary of Commerce.
The councils represent diverse fisheries interests and are comprised of members whose combined knowledge and experience represent a balance of commercial and recreational fisheries interests for each geographical area concerned.
With the Secretary's appointment of Marks, obligatory members on the Mid-Atlantic Council represent the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, as follows:
-- John C. Bryson -- Rick E. Marks -- Gary A. Caputi Dover, Del. North Carolina Pt. Pleasant, N.J. Fisheries Assn. New Bern, N.C. -- Ricks E. Savage -- Anthony D. DiLernia -- Alan D. Weiss Offshore Info. Pub., Inc. Office of Marine Educ. Blue Water Fishing Wallace & Associates Kingsborough Tackle Co. Salisbury, Md. Community College King of Prussia, Penn. Manhattan Beach, N.Y.-- Virginia's obligatory seat is currently vacant