Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Archives

Geoffrey White Named ACCSP Director

August 20, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Robert E. Beal, Executive Director of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, has announced the selection of Mr. Geoffrey White as the Director of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Mr. White has been with the Commission for more than 20 years and has worked in various capacities for ACCSP for the past 15 years. Since 2015, Mr. White has coordinated and managed the transition to and full implementation of state conduct of the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS), an integral component of the Marine Recreational Information Program. Mr. White replaces Mr. Michael Cahall, who served as ACCSP Director from 2007 to May 2019.

“Geoff’s long-standing dedication to the Commission and ACCSP, combined with his outstanding record of accomplishments over two decades, made him a clear choice for ACCSP Director,” stated Robert Beal. “His leadership in overseeing the transition of APAIS from a federal contractor to state conduct for the states of Maine through Georgia is particularly notable. With an extensive background in both fisheries science and information technology, Geoff is ideally suited for this position. He understands the absolute necessity for high quality, dependable, and timely fisheries data, as well as the need to leverage technological innovations to improve efficiencies at all levels of data collection and management.”

Read the full release here

MAFMC Reminder: Electronic Reporting Requirements for Party/Charter Vessels with Mid-Atlantic Permits

March 7, 2018 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Beginning Monday, March 12, 2018, all charter and party vessel operators holding a federal permit for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will be required to electronically submit Vessel Trip Reports for all trips carrying passengers for hire. These electronic Vessel Trip Reports (eVTRs) must be submitted through a NOAA-approved software application within 48 hours of entering port following the end of a fishing trip. This regulation applies to all vessels with these permits, including vessels outside of the Mid-Atlantic region, regardless of where they are fishing when carrying passengers for hire.

This action is not a change in reporting requirements; it is an administrative modification to the method and timing for submitting VTRs.

This change applies to all vessels with federal Greater Atlantic Regional charter or party permits for any of the following species:

Atlantic mackerel
Squid
Butterfish
Summer Flounder
Scup
Black sea bass
Bluefish
Tilefish

Electronic Reporting Information and Resources

For more information, visit the Mid-Atlantic Council’s For-Hire Electronic Reporting page or the NOAA Fisheries Summary of eVTR Reporting Requirements. Additional details about eVTR software applications and contacts/support for eVTR problems are available here.

Training Opportunities

The Council has hosted several training sessions to help for-hire vessel operators prepare for these upcoming electronic reporting requirements, including two workshops in April 2017, two workshops in February 2018, and a webinar in March 2018. A recording of the webinar can be viewed online at this link.

On March 16, 2018, The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) will host a workshop on using the SAFIS eTrips software in Riverhead, NY. Registration is required, and participation will be limited to the first 25 captains who sign up. View the announcement for additional details.

Contact

Individuals with questions about eVTRs should contact Daniel Luers, Sustainable Fisheries Division, at 978-282-8457 or email at Daniel.Luers@noaa.gov.

Quick Links

Learn more about the MAFMC by visiting their site here.

MAFMC: Council to Offer Webinar on Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting for For-Hire Vessel Operators

February 23, 2018 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar on Friday, March 2, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to help for-hire vessel operators prepare for upcoming electronic reporting requirements. This webinar will be recorded and made available on the Council’s website for later viewing for those who cannot attend.

Beginning March 12, 2018, all vessels with Federal charter or party permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council will be required to submit electronic vessel trip reports (eVTRs) while on trips carrying passengers for hire. eVTRs must be submitted through a NOAA-approved software application within 48 hours following the completion of a fishing trip. This action only changes the required method of transmitting VTRs and the submission date; the required data elements and all other existing reporting requirements will not change. This regulation impacts any for-hire vessel holding Federal charter or party permits for Council-managed species, regardless of home port or fishing location. For more information about for-hire electronic reporting requirements, visit the For-Hire eVTR page or review the For-Hire eVTR Q&A summary.

This webinar will provide participants with information on the new requirements and training on select systems in preparation for this action. While all options for electronic reporting will be briefly discussed, the webinar will focus primarily on training for the SAFIS eTrips/mobile system developed by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Instruction will be led by Rick Bellavance, Owner/Operator of Priority Fishing Charters in Point Judith, Rhode Island, and ACCSP staff.

Registration: Pre-registration is encouraged at www.mafmc.org/for-hire-evtr/. Pre-registration will allow us to assist you with setting up accounts and systems needed to comply with this requirement.

To join the webinar, go to http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/evtr2018/, select “Enter as Guest,” and type your name in the box. Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or you can call direct: 800-832-0736, Rm: *7833942#.

View the release from the MAFMC in its entirety here.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Offer Training Workshops on Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting for the For-Hire Community

January 16, 2018 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold two workshops in February to help for-hire vessel operators prepare for upcoming electronic reporting requirements. Beginning March 12, 2018, all vessels with Federal charter or party permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council will be required to submit electronic vessel trip reports (eVTRs) while on trips carrying passengers for hire. eVTRs must be submitted through a NOAA-approved software application within 48 hours following the completion of a fishing trip.

While all software options for electronic reporting will be briefly discussed, the workshops will primarily focus on training for the SAFIS eTrips/mobile and eTrips Online systems developed by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Participants will receive hands-on assistance with navigating the eTrips application, setting up favorites, and creating and editing trip reports. Instruction will be led by Rick Bellavance, Owner/Operator of Priority Fishing Charters in Point Judith, Rhode Island, and ACCSP staff.

For more information about for-hire electronic reporting requirements and software options, visit http://www.mafmc.org/for-hire-evtr/.

Workshop Dates and Locations

Saturday, February 10, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore, 50 Ferncroft Rd., Danvers, MA, 978-777-2500
Saturday, February 24, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Clarion Hotel & Convention Center, 815 Route 37 West, Toms River, NJ, 732-341-6101

Instruction for SAFIS eTrips/mobile (for use on tablets) will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. Instruction for eTrips Online (for use on desktop or laptop computers) will begin at 1:00 and conclude by 4:30. Each session will be preceded by a discussion of all options for reporting. In the event that demand for eTrips Online instruction is low, a second eTrips/mobile session may be added in the afternoon.

Registration

To register for one of the workshops, complete the registration form at http://www.mafmc.org/forms/evtr-workshop-registration or email the workshop coordinator at aloftus@andrewloftus.com. There are a limited number of spaces available. Participants are strongly encouraged to register early so that workshop personnel can work with each individual prior to the workshop to establish needed accounts for reporting systems.

What to Bring

Participants should bring an electronic tablet or laptop capable of connecting to the internet via W-Fi. For the mobile-based version, participants will need either a Google account (for Android systems) or an iTunes account (for Apple systems) to download the eTrips/mobile app. This will allow you to work along with the instructors and be set up and ready to begin electronic reporting once you leave the workshop.

Please direct any questions to workshop coordinator Andrew Loftus, aloftus@andrewloftus.com, (410) 295-5997.

PDF version / Web Version

James J. Gilmore, Jr. Elected ASMFC Chair

October 19, 2017 — NORFOLK, Virginia — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Today, member states of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) thanked Douglas Grout of New Hampshire for an effective two-year term as Chair and elected James J. Gilmore, Jr. of New York to succeed him.

“I am honored by the support of my colleagues from the 15 Atlantic coast states, and grateful to Doug for shepherding the Commission through two challenging years,” said Mr. Gilmore. “I embrace the challenges that lie ahead and pledge to rise up to the lofty expectations set by my predecessors – especially Doug. Environmental and political threats to fisheries and management for the 15 sovereign coast states have never been greater. As the Commission has always done, we must use these obstacles as stepping stones. I will ensure the voices of our many stakeholders – recreational, commercial, and conservation alike – are heard. The Commission must seek ways to ensure the integrity of our management process is protected, strengthen our collaboration with NOAA Fisheries, and continue forging alliances on Capitol Hill. With all the challenges facing the Commission, it’s all too easy to lose sight of our Vision: Sustainably Managing Atlantic Coastal Fisheries. Our Vision must guide the Commission through all its decisions.”

Under Mr. Grout’s chairmanship, the Commission made important strides in furthering its strategic goals. The Commission approved new plan amendments for northern shrimp and tautog and, by the end of the year, will likely adopt an important amendment for Atlantic menhaden and a new Cobia FMP. Commission science staff along with state and federal scientists completed benchmark stock assessments for Atlantic sturgeon, Atlantic croaker, spot, red drum; stock assessment updates for American eel, menhaden and river herring; and regional stock assessments and an assessment update for tautog. All of these have provided much needed insight into the health of these species, as well as identified the continued challenges of assessing fish stocks given limited data and increasingly complex stock assessment models.

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) is now fully integrated under the Commission’s umbrella. State conduct of the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Access Point Angler Intercept Survey is well into its second year and is estimated to have increased the number of angler intercepts by nearly 10%. ACCSP has been collaborating with NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Office on an integrated reporting system, which will allow all related fisheries-dependent data collected from various sources, including vessel, observer, and dealer reports, to be linked. ACCSP has also been working closely with the Mid-Atlantic Council on launching its mandatory for-hire electronic reporting system and have begun discussions with the South Atlantic Council on its efforts to move to for-hire electronic reporting.

The Commission’s Habitat Committee and the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership continue to advance our understanding of the importance of the fisheries-habitat connection and provide us and habitat managers with tools to further habitat conservation. The Habitat Committee released the Sciaenid Fish Habitat Source Document, the most comprehensive compilation of habitat information to date on Commission-managed and other common sciaenid species found throughout the Western Atlantic. ACFHP completed its 5-year Conservation Strategic Plan and 2-year Conservation Action Plan which include goals, objectives, strategies, and actions to restore and enhance Atlantic coastal, estuarine, and diadromous fish habitat through conservation, science and data, outreach and communication, and financial initiatives. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee continued to coordinate enforcement activities directed at illegal glass eel harvest and to respond to lobster industry concerns about illegal activity in federal waters by working with our federal partners to place lobster as a high priority for federal enforcement and joint enforcement agreement activities.

Mr. Gilmore has served as Director of the Division of Marine Resources for New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the past ten years. As a respected marine scientist and fisheries manager with more than 40 years of experience in both the public and private sector, Mr. Gilmore has built a reputation as a coalition builder and skilled negotiator. Mr. Gilmore is also an Executive Committee member of the New York Sea Grant Board of Directors and holds an adjunct faculty position at SUNY Stony Brook, where he teaches a graduate level fisheries management course. Most importantly, he is an avid marine angler, dividing his efforts between Long Island Sound’s south shore and southern New Jersey. Mr. Gilmore received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from SUNY Plattsburgh and a Master’s in Marine Science from SUNY Stony Brook.

The Commission also elected Patrick Keliher, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, as its Vice-Chair.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Offer Training on Electronic Vessel Trip Reports for the For-Hire Community

April 17, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

This is the final call for registration to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) workshops to help the for-hire community prepare for submitting Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) electronically.

The Council approved a measure last year that will phase out the current paper-based reports over the coming year. For-hire vessel operators/owners who must report VTRs for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council will need to report using their mobile device or personal computer in order to be in compliance. Such options are already available on a voluntary basis.

While all options for electronic reporting will be briefly discussed, the workshops will focus on hands-on training for the eTrips/mobile and eTrips/PC system, a free program developed by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Instruction and guidance will be led by Rick Bellavance, Owner/Operator of Priority Fishing Charters in Point Judith, Rhode Island, and ACCSP staff.

April 25th, 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm at the Hilton Mystic Hotel 20 Coogan Blvd., Mystic CT 06355. Phone: (860) 572-0731.

April 27th. 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Baltimore-BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Rd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. Phone: (410) 859-8400.

Participation is limited to 30 individuals per workshop!

Registration: To register for one of the workshops, visit http://www.mafmc.org/forms/evtr-workshop-registration.

What to Bring: It would be extremely helpful to bring an electronic tablet or laptop capable of connecting to the internet via W-Fi. For the mobile-based version, participants will need either a Google account (for Android systems) or an iTunes account (for Apple systems) to download the eTrips/mobile app. This will allow you to work along with the instructors and be set up and ready to begin electronic reporting once you leave the workshop.

Please direct any questions to workshop coordinator Andrew Loftus (aloftus@andrewloftus.com; 410-295-5997).

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Offer Training on Electronic Vessel Trip Reports for the For-Hire Community

March 22, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is hosting two workshops in late April to help the for-hire community prepare for submitting Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) electronically. The Council approved a measure last year that will phase out the current paper-based reports over the coming year. For-hire vessel operators/owners who must report VTRs for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council will need to report using their mobile device or personal computer in order to be in compliance. Such options are already available on a voluntary basis.

While all options for electronic reporting will be briefly discussed, the workshops will focus on hands-on training for the eTrips/mobile and eTrips/PC system, a free program developed by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Instruction and guidance will be led by Rick Bellavance, Owner/Operator of Priority Fishing Charters in Point Judith, Rhode Island, and ACCSP staff.

When:

April 25th, 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm at the Hilton Mystic Hotel 20 Coogan Blvd., Mystic CT 06355. Phone: (860) 572-0731.

April 27th. 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Baltimore-BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Rd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. Phone: (410) 859-8400.

Participation is limited to 30 individuals per workshop!

Registration: To register for one of the workshops, visit http://www.mafmc.org/forms/evtr-workshop-registration.

What to Bring: It would be extremely helpful to bring an electronic tablet or laptop capable of connecting to the internet via W-Fi. For the mobile-based version, participants will need either a Google account (for Android systems) or an iTunes account (for Apple systems) to download the eTrips/mobile app. This will allow you to work along with the instructors and be set up and ready to begin electronic reporting once you leave the workshop.

Please direct any questions to workshop coordinator Andrew Loftus (aloftus@andrewloftus.com; 410-295-5997).

PDF Version / Web Version

ASMFC 2016 Spring Meeting Preliminary Agenda and Public Comment Guidelines

March 16, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Please find attached and below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2016 Spring Meeting, May 2-5, 2016 in Alexandria, VA. The agenda is also available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-spring-meeting. Materials will be available on April 20, 2016 on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-spring-meeting.

Monday, May 2, 2016

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. American Lobster Management Board

· Discuss Future Management of Southern New England American Lobster Stock

o Address Tabled Motion to Initiate an Addendum to Address the Declining Stock Conditions

o Technical Committee Report

o Plan Development Team Report

· Discuss Future Management for Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank American Lobster Stock

· Consider Final Action on Draft Addendum I to the Jonah Crab FMP

· Discuss Possible Action to Create a Coastwide Standard for Claw Landings in the Jonah Crab Fishery

· Update on Effort Control Measures for Jonah Crab Only Trap Fishermen in Rhode Island

· Update on the New England Fishery Management Council Deep Sea Coral Habitat Amendment and ASMFC Survey to Area 3 Fishermen

· American Lobster Law Enforcement Subcommittee Update on Offshore Enforcement and Trap Reduction Enforcement

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee

· Program Update

· Update on the MRIP APAIS Transition

· Review and Approve Standard Operating Procedures Written in Response to the Independent Program Review

· Develop a Program Governance Recommendation

· Review Request for Proposals for the Upcoming Funding Cycle

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. ACCSP Coordinating Council

· Program Update

· Update on the MRIP APAIS Transition

· Consider Approval of Standard Operating Procedures

· Review and Consider Approval of Governance Recommendations

· Review and Consider Approval of Request for Proposals for the Upcoming Funding Cycle

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee

· Report of the Administrative Oversight Committee

· Presentation of the FY17 Budget

· Discussion of ACCSP Governance

· Discussion of Plan Development Team Membership

· Future Annual Meetings Update

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Horseshoe Crab Management Board

· Discuss Biomedical Data Confidentiality and Stock Assessment Planning

· Review of Alternative Bait Costs

· Update on Adaptive Resource Management Framework Review

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Shad and River Herring Management Board

· Report from Data Standardization Workshop

· Update on Activities of the River Herring Technical Expert Work Group

· Stock Assessment Planning and Timetable for American Shad and River Herring Benchmark Assessments

Noon – 5:00 p.m. Law Enforcement Committee (LEC)

· Update on Maine Lobster Trap Tag Transferability Program

· Discuss Lobster Offshore Enforcement Issues

· Review Tautog Tagging Program Options and Subcommittee Efforts

· Discuss Aerial Enforcement Issues and Subcommittee Efforts

· Review 2016 Action Plan Tasks for LEC

· Discuss Ongoing Enforcement Activities (Closed Session)

· Federal Agency Report Highlights

· State Agency Report Highlights

· Review and Discuss Additional ISFMP Species Issues (as needed)

1:15 – 3:45 p.m. Climate Change Workshop

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. American Eel Management Board

· Discuss Potential Options for Revisiting Yellow Eel Commercial Quota

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Annual Awards of Excellence Reception

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Weakfish Management Board

· Review and Consider Approval of the 2016 Weakfish Benchmark Stock Assessment for Management Use

· Discuss Next Steps for Management in Response to Assessment Results

8:30 a.m. – Noon Law Enforcement Committee (continued)

10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board

· Executive Committee Report

· Management & Science Committee Report

· Assessment Science Committee Report and Approval of the Stock Assessment Schedule

· Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report

· Law Enforcement Committee Report

· Consider Next Steps Relative to Climate Change and ASMFC Management

· Report on Commissioner Survey Follow-up

· Atlantic Sturgeon Benchmark Assessment Update

· Overview of the Sturgeon Research and Recovery Workshop Scheduled for May 16-19, 2016 (Coordinated by NOAA Fisheries)

1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Commissioner Parliamentary Workshop

Thursday, May 5, 2016

8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

· Consider Draft Addendum I for Public Comment

· Provide Guidance to the Technical Committee Regarding Stock Projections

· Consider 2015 FMP Review and State Compliance

10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Coastal Sharks Management Board

· Review and Consider Approval of Draft Addendum IV (Smoothhound Dogfish) for Public Comment

11:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board

· Review and Consider Approval of the 2016 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment for Management Use

· Discuss Next Steps for Red Drum Management in Response to the Assessment Results

· Progress Update on Spot and Atlantic Croaker Benchmark Stock Assessments

· Review North Carolina Report on Spanish Mackerel Pound Net Landings as Required by Addendum I to the Omnibus Amendment for Spanish Mackerel, Spot, and Spotted Seatrout

· Elect Vice-Chair

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Business Session (if necessary)

· Review Noncompliance Findings (if necessary)

Public Comment Guidelines

With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:

For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.

For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.

For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.

In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).

1. Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included in the briefing materials.

2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be April 26, 2016) will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.

3. Following the Tuesday, April 26, 2016 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).

The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution. As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.

View a PDF of the Agenda

Robert Boyles new ACCSP Chair of the Coordinating Council

November 2, 2015 — ST. AUGUSTINE, Fl. — The following was released by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program:

Today, Program partners of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program’s (ACCSP) Coordinating Council (the ACCSP’s governing body), acknowledged the many accomplishments of outgoing Chair, Cheri Patterson of New Hampshire and elected Robert H. Boyles, Jr. as its new Chair.

In assuming the chairmanship, Mr. Boyles spoke eagerly about his new position, “It is with much honor that I accept the position of Chair of the Coordinating Council. To be elected by my fellow colleagues is humbling and I pledge to continue to advance the ACCSP as the principle source of dependable fisheries data on the Atlantic coast. In order to achieve this goal, I plan on guiding ACCSP through a successful governance review process to ensure that the ultimate decision is in the best interest of the Program. I also commit to working with ACCSP staff and Council members committees to upgrade ACCSP applications to the standards that our partners deserve.”

“My predecessor, Cheri Patterson, has paved a smooth path for me as I take on Chairmanship through what I know was countless hours of dedication to this Program. In two short years, Cheri has guided ACCSP through 67 recommendations that were a result of an Independent Review of the Program, ensuring that all recommendations were addressed for implementation through seven different vehicles. Additionally, Cheri oversaw a historic meeting at our last annual meeting in Mystic, Connecticut where the ACCSP’s Coordinating Council met jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board to decide on whether both groups, working with the Atlantic states, should move forward on conducting the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) portion of the Marine Recreational Information Program. The result was a unanimous vote to allow for state conduct of the APAIS beginning in 2016.

Mr. Boyles currently is the Deputy Director for Marine Resources with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. In this position, Mr. Boyles oversees the State of South Carolina’s marine resources research, management, and education operations. Mr. Boyles received his B.S. in Mathematical Economics from Wake Forest University and his M.S. in Marine Policy from the University of Delaware. In 1993, Robert was a Dean John A. Knauss Sea Grant Marine Policy Fellow, where he worked for the NOAA Coastal Ocean Program.

The Coordinating Council also elected Lynn Fegley from Maryland as its Vice-Chair. Ms. Fegley is the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service Deputy Director.

View a PDF of the release