NOAA Fisheries Names Doug Lipton Senior Research Economist

January 31, 2013

Doug Lipton, PhD, has been tapped to fill the newly created position of Senior Research Economist at NOAA Fisheries. He will start on June 3, 2013. In this new role, Dr. Lipton will provide leadership and strategic direction to the agency’s economics and social science research program. Dr. Lipton’s deep experience in fisheries economics will be invaluable as NOAA Fisheries works to support the economic vitality of the nation’s coastal communities and the productivity of our ocean resources.

“Doug Lipton is a leader in bringing innovative economic thinking to bear on tough issues in managing marine resources and maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems,” said Dr. Richard Merrick, NOAA Fisheries Chief Science Advisor. “Supporting the well-being of our coastal communities is one of this agency’s priority missions. I am very pleased that Doug, as our Senior Research Economist, will help point the way forward as we work to insure that coastal communities benefit from a healthy ocean, today and into the future.”

Currently, Dr. Lipton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland. Much of his research has focused on valuing marine resources such as fish, shellfish, and recreation, and on understanding how water quality affects the value of those resources. In addition, he has been instrumental in developing innovative policies that use economic incentives to drive environmental improvements. For example, he has recently worked on creating market-based programs to fund oyster reef restoration in order to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

In addition to his duties as a researcher and professor, Dr. Lipton has been Program Leader for the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program for the past 20 years. This program, which is partly funded by NOAA, connects experts in aquaculture, seafood, water quality, and marine and watershed science with the government agencies, citizens groups, and businesses that stand to benefit from their expertise. Among other things, the Sea Grant Extension Program assists coastal communities in contributing to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The program has also helped the crab industry use technology to improve seafood quality control.

“I am excited and honored to be appointed NOAA’s first Senior Research Economist,” said Dr. Lipton, who also noted that economics and social science research are fundamental to maintaining a vital economy and a healthy ecosystem.

Dr. Lipton is particularly interested in exploring how economic and social science can be incorporated into developing approaches for ecosystem based fisheries management. “More generally, I will build on our already outstanding economic and social science research program, and to ensure that research results are used to inform our policies”, said Lipton. 

This won’t be the first time that Dr. Lipton is working for NOAA Fisheries. Before beginning graduate studies in economics, Lipton worked as a fisheries biologist for NOAA, and he later worked as an economist for the agency while pursuing his doctoral studies.

Dr. Lipton received his PhD in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Maryland. He also holds a M.A. degree in marine science from the College of William and Mary, and a B.S. degree in biology from Stony Brook University.

• Assistant/Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland since 1988. Marquee Professor of Science and Technology since 2009.
• Program Leader of the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program since 1993. This program brings together experts from academia, government, industry, and citizen groups in order to share best practices related to fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystem health; to promote sustainable use of Chesapeake Bay’s natural resources; and to educate the public.
• Member of the Chesapeake Bay Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee from 1994-2011, Committee Chair, 2007-2008.  The Committee advises the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership on issues related to science supporting Chesapeake Bay restoration and management activities.
• Industry Economist in the National Economics Program at NOAA Fisheries
  from 1985 until 1988.  Conducted analysis of national fisheries issues such
  as seafood trade, aquaculture policy, and the role of economics in fisheries
  management.
• Fishery Biologist at the Office of Research Investigations at NOAA Fisheries
  from 1979 to 1985. Provided headquarters support to the Fisheries Science Centers.

• Seafood Ambassador Award, Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association, 2002
• Excellence in Service Award, Marine Trades Association of Maryland, 1998
• Excellence in Extension Programs, University of Maryland, College of Agriculture Alumni Association