Contact: Gordon Helm               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   7/22/96

HOGARTH TO LEAD NMFS HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES DIVISION; Appointment to last for one year.

William T. Hogarth has accepted a request to head up the Highly Migratory Species Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Assistant Administrator Rolland Schmitten announced today.

"Bill brings a depth of experience and knowledge necessary to effectively handle this highly visible and critically important division," Schmitten said of the temporary appointment.

Fisheries service managers believe it is very important to protect these valuable resources and to work closely with all constituents, including fishermen, fishery management councils, regional authorities and states in carrying out these responsibilities. As such, Rebecca Lent will manage the highly migratory species division's internal activities, while Hogarth will spend much of his time working with these groups to gather input and discuss management strategies for these highly sought after and economically valuable species.

The appointment will allow fisheries service managers to review the mission of the division as part of overall fisheries service reorganization efforts to improve service to the public and better meet the agencies' management and conservation goals.

Hogarth, who had already accepted an appointment to be the Southeast Region Fishery Administrator, will transfer to that position at the end of this assignment. Previously, Hogarth coordinated the fisheries service's intergovernmental and recreational fisheries programs, and was Director of Marine Fisheries for the state of North Carolina.

The Highly Migratory Species Division is part of the fisheries service's Office of Fishery Conservation Management. The division manages the harvesting of several species of highly migratory fish, including tuna, billfish and sharks.

Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., the National Marine Fisheries Service is part of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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