Consensus Conference on Marine Reserves Science:

Review Panel and Presenters

 

Review Panel

 

 

Invitee

Institution

Background

Don Boesch, Chair

President, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland

http://www.umces.edu/President/

 

Dr. Boesch is an internationally known marine ecologist who has conducted extensive research in coastal and continental shelf environments. He has published two books and more than 60 papers on a wide range of scientific and science policy topics. He has been a member of the Marine Board and the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council, and he has chaired three prominent NRC committees. Dr. Boesch has also served on national advisory boards for the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the President's National Science and Technology Council.

 

Mike Beck

Senior Scientist

Marine Initiative

The Nature Conservancy

www.nature.org/initiatives/marine

 

Since 1998 has directed coastal and marine science initiatives for The Nature Conservancy. Previously held a number of academic research psositions at universities in the US and Australia. Research focus on marine planning and the influence of habitat structure on marine ecosystems. Member of advisory committees for EPA, the Heinz Center, the European Union, NatureServe, and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

Bob Cowen

Professor and Maytag Chair of Ichthyology

University of Miami RSMAS/MBF

Miami, FL 33149-1098

Research on ecology and early life history of fishes and the biological and physical oceanographic processes affecting the retention and transport of larval fishes, in terms of examining larval dynamics, population replenishment and connectivity. Also worked on the reproductive and population biology of hermaphroditic (sex-changing) fishes, as well as community ecology of kelp bed systems. Recent focus on role of juvenile habitat in the recruitment of fishes, population connectivity in marine fishes, and early life history dynamics of billfish.

Susan Hanna

Professor

Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Oregon State University

http://marineresearch.oregonstate.edu/assets/page_folders/faculty_page/hanna_hp.htm

 

Fishery economics, fishery management, history of fishery policy, and property rights. Focus on promoting the economic and ecological productivity of marine resources by improving management performance. She has served as a scientific advisor to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Northwest Power Planning Council, National Marine Fisheries Service, Minerals Management Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Member of the National Research Council's Ocean Studies Board and several NRC Committees, including the Committee to assess Pacific Northwest salmonids and the committee to Review Individual Quotas in Fisheries. President of the International Association for the Study of Common Property and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics

Patrick J. Sullivan (Invited)

Professor

Dept. of Natural Resources

Cornell University

http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/people/faculty/profiles/sullivan.html

 

The dynamics of natural populations and communities is the central focus of his teaching and research. Using statistical methods, such as survey sampling, nonlinear population modeling and assessment, and spatial statistics, to observe and model the dynamics of natural systems in a quantitative way, he is particularly interested in how variation can be used to characterize natural systems, address uncertainty and determine risk in order to improve environmental management. His research has focused mainly on fisheries problems in marine and freshwater environments. These include statistical methods for population assessment and modeling, methods for data acquisition and utilization, spatial modeling of habitat and abundance, and formulating mechanisms for making better use of information in the management arena.

Steve Murawski

Chief, Population Dynamics Branch

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Fisheries

 

Fisheries science and management. Stock assessment. Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole. Direct experience with design and evaluation of large closed areas in New England.

Michael Sissenwine

Director

Science and Research at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Fisheries

Population dynamics and fishery management, NOAA Deputy Asst Adm for Fisheries, former NMFS Chief Scientist and Science Director NMFS. Has provided scientific advice to US policy makers and managers re conservation and management of marine living resources. Convenor of several international scientific conferences, delegate to the International Council for Exploration of the Sea, Scientific Council member for the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization, delegate to the Pacific Science Association, former member of the scientific steering committee for the US Global Ecosystem Dynamics program (GLOBEC) and a former co-director of GLOBEC, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Research for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), member National Research Council Ocean Studies Board.

Daniel Suman

Associate Professor of Marine Affairs and Policy

University of Miami

http://www.bio.miami.edu/info/ESC/suman.html

 

Member IUCN Commission on Environmental Law.

Research Interests include adaptability of the fishing sectors in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador to ENSO ("El Niño") climate variability, mangrove management in Latin American and Caribbean countries, establishment of MPAs.  Emphasis on integrating ecological, policy, economic, and legal aspects of complex resource management problems. Active in international committees and forums.

Presenters

 

 

Invitee

Institution

Background

Dick Allen

New England fisherman

www.fisheryconservation.com

 

36-year commercial fishing career, in lobster, surf clam, groundfigh, herring, and menhaden fisheries. Earned highest honors from fisheries and marine technology program at the Univ Rhode Island. BS in Natural Resource Development and MS in Marine Affairs. Fishery consultant, Council member for 9 years, commissioner on Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for 11 years, former member US Dept Commerce Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. Pew Fellow focusing on facilitating science-industry collaboration by introducing computer simulation models of the lobster fishery to the lobster fishing community. Central interst in showing that fishery conservation can be both biologically and economically beneficial.

Jim Balsiger

Regional Administrator

Alaska Region

NOAA Fisheries

 

Previously Regional Science and Research Director, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 1995 – 2000, Deputy Director of the Center, from 1991 – 1995, and Program Leader for the Status of Stocks, 1977 – 1991. Currently responsible for stewardship of Alaska’s living marine resources including management of fisheries in the 3 to 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and serves on several boards and advisory councils, including the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the North Pacific Research Board, the Advisory Council for the University of Alaska’s School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, and the Pollock Conservation Co-op Research Council. Represents NOAA on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.

Loo Botsford

Professor

Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology

University of California, Davis

http://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/www/faculty/Loo/BotsfordSiteFiles/BotsfordMain.html

 

Research focus is the application of age, size and spatially structured population models to practical problems, usually problems in marine conservation of fisheries. Combines modeling approaches with field work to better understand critical aspects of dynamics, primarily on ocean influences on larval transport and estimation of vital rates from size distributions. Retrospectiveanalyses of past data includes primarily calculations of the degree of covariability between environmental and biological variables. Has developed influential models that describe and predict the performance of marine reserves under different situations.

Ken Frank

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Bedford Institute of Oceanography

 

Many years of management experience with DFO, including stock assessments of haddock fishery and evaluation of the large haddock closure in the North Atlantic. Current research focus on fisheries ecology, resource conservation, biogeographic theory, fisheries oceanography, and marine ecosystem assessment.

Arne Fuglvog

Alaska fisherman

President, Petersburg Vessel Owner’s Association

 

A lifelong resident of Petersburg, Alaska, has been fishing commercially since 1975, primarily longlining for halibut and sablefish, but has participated in salmon, herring and crab fisheries throughout the state of Alaska. President of Petersburg Vessel Owners Association and a member North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, after serving 9 years on its advisory panel. Member Research Advisory Board to the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Named one of National Fisherman's "highliners of the year" for 2003.

Rod Fujita

Senior Scientist

Environmental Defense

 

Worked on acid rain, ozone depletion, global climate change, and protecting marine ecosystems. Initiated Environmental Defense’s Coral Reef Project, played a lead role in establishing the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Leads efforts to create sustainable fisheries along the Pacific coast of the U.S., in Hawaii, and in international waters. Currently working to stop overfishing and to create networks of marine reserves to increase fishery yields while protecting marine biodiversity and ecosystem health

Mark Hixon

Professor

Department of Zoology

Oregon State University

 

http://oregonstate.edu/~hixonm/index.htm

 

Marine ecologist expert on coastal marine fishes, with research on mechanisms that naturally regulate populations and sustain biodiversity of marine fish. Collated research on potential fisheries benefits of existing West Coast marine reserves. Appointed to several advisory boards, including the MPA Federal Advisory Committee.

Steve Palumbi

Professor

Hopkins Marine Station

Stanford University

Stanford University

http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/palumbi.html

 

Research on genetics, evolution, population biology, and systematics of a diverse array of marine organisms. Major focus is genetics of marine populations in the context of marine protected areas for conservation and fisheries enhancement. Second focus is use of molecular genetic techniques for the identification of whale and dolphin products available in commercial markets. Third is mechanisms of reproductive isolation and their influence on patterns of speciation and degree of genetic structure in marine systems.

Andy Rosenberg

Dean, Life Sciences and Agriculture

University of New Hampshire

 

Research focus on marine science, marine policy, and marine fisheries. Former deputy director of the National Marine FisheriesService, was a key agency policymaker and liaison to Congress, senior levels of the administration, resource management partners, and the public. Previously NMFS Northeast regional administrator, where played major role in developing and implementing recovery plans for New England fisheries which now are showing improvements. Implemented protection plans for marine mammals such as harbor porpoise and right whales, and endangered species like Atlantic salmon. Prior head of delegation to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.

Vidar Wespestad

President

Resource Analyst International

 

Consults in area of global marine resource assessment. Chief Fisheries Scientist for the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative, an organization of U.S. west coast at-sea processing companies. Another major client is the American Fisheries Research Foundation. From 1977 to 1997 he was a fishery research biologist with the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. At the time of his retirement from government service, Dr. Wespestad was leader of the Bering Sea stock assessment group at the Alaska Fishery Science Center. He is a recipient of the American Fisheries Society's Distinguished Service Award for organizing and co-chairing the First World Fishery Congress, and has held fellowships from the Norwegian Fishery Research Council, the Norwegian Marshall Fund, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He received his Ph.D. in fisheries from the University of Washington