NOAA FISHERIES OFFICE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT VMS MANAGER
NAMED AS A NOAA EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FOR 2002

Guy Holt, Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) manager for NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) - Alaskan Division was named NOAA Employee of the Year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and was recognized at a ceremony at NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., on June 18.

Holt received the honor for his instrumental role in successfully creating and implementing the vessel monitoring system used in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island groundfish fisheries which enabled continued fishing while protecting endangered Steller sea lions.

The implementation of the Alaskan VMS was the result of a Nov. 2000 court ordered biological opinion, which determined that certain fisheries were jeopardizing these sea lions.

Holt identified and implemented a system that addressed the remoteness and complexities of the Alaskan fisheries and met the needs of both management and the fishing industry.

Holt conducted numerous presentations to other agencies, the Coast Guard, fishermen and the media to educate them about the functionality of VMS throughout the development and implementation of the system.

“We will continue to explore current and future technologies, and in so doing provide more solutions to the fishing industry that are effective, flexible and cost effective, Holt stated. “I expect VMS to become more and more prevalent for uses ranging from enforcement to management and scientific endeavors in the future.”

Holt’s continued commitment to ensuring that all operators, including fishermen and law enforcement, know how to properly operate their individual units and the system as a whole has been key in maintaining the coverage of the 400+ fishing vessels in the Alaskan groundfish fishery.

Born and raised in Alaska, Holt conducted technology projects for the Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before joining NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement in Jan. 2001. He now calls Juneau home.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA fisheries) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about NOAA fisheries, please visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov.