Offshore Wind Mariner Updates

ASGA is the organizing voice for members of the recreational fishing community who find greater value in having access to abundant fish stocks rather than simply maximizing harvest. Members include for-hire captains and guides, fishing-related small businesses, and private anglers from Maine to Florida who fish for a broad range of state- and federally-managed species.

Tony Friedrich

202-744-5013

tony@saltwaterguidesassociation.org

Coastal Asset Management was formed by Gordon Videll, Gary Yerman, and Michael Theiler in Southeastern Connecticut. Together we have decades of experience as professional mariners and extensive knowledge of local waters that allow us to provide and distribute information in an effective and meaningful manner to the local fishing community.

Michael Theiler

860-235-5117

mike@ss-na.com

The Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island is the home for the Ocean State's commercial fishing community. The center was founded to preserve commercial fishing as a profession, culture, and way of life through promoting the sustainability of the resource. Achieving true sustainability in our fisheries is a difficult and complicated feat. But CFCRI believes in cultivating an environment of open communication and encouraging the sharing of knowledge about our ocean and its resources. In the pursuit of sustainable seas, our approach is innovative, our lens is optimistic, and our goals are ambitious.

Our members believe in commercial fishing as a profession, a culture, and a way of life. We seek to preserve the sanctity of our community, the solvency of our small business and the sustainability of the fishery resource. The Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island is our headquarters to bring fishermen, scientists, managers, and elected officials together in a collaborative effort to improve our fisheries and our understanding of the marine environment so that the proud heritage of our industry continues nobly through future generations.

Fred Mattera

401-741-4178

fredmattera@cfcri.org

Joe Huckemeyer

508-790-0660

joseph1414@comcast.net

The Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 2011 to: (i) Preserve the historic fishing fleets, communities, and economies of Martha’s Vineyard; (ii) Protect the marine populations and fishing grounds off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and New England; (iii) Educate the community about its local fisheries.

Shelly Edmundson

508-687-0344

mvfishermen@gmail.com

The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association is a member-driven organization that accepts and supports the interdependence of species conservation and the members’ collective economic interests.  The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association was established in 1963 by the fishermen, for the fishermen, and is presently one of the leading commercial fishing industry associations in New England. On behalf of the 1,800 members, the MLA works to maintain both the industry and the resource. The MLA strives to be proactive on issues affecting the lobster industry and is active in the management process at both the state and federal levels. The MLA communicates with its members through a monthly newspaper, weekly email, Facebook, Twitter and attendance at meetings. For the past 54 years, the MLA has become a trustworthy voice for the industry on important issues, and is looked to by both the fishing industry and the management community.

Beth Casoni

781-545-6984

beth.casoni@lobstermen.com

The Montauk Fish Dock is a commercial fish unloading packing and freight forwarding facility located in Montauk NY. The Dock provides diesel fuel, ice, dockage and  fresh water. Montauk Fish Dock has been servicing the fishing fleet since 1988. Customer gear types are inshore and offshore Draggers, inshore and offshore gillneters, offshore bottom and surface longliners, inshore and offshore Lobster, offshore sea scallop, inshore and offshore rod and reel. The fleet consists of approximately 40 fishing vessels of which 20 vessels fish all year.

Paul Farnham

631-835-9355

paulfarnham1@gmail.com

The New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA) is the governing body for New Bedford’s harbor and city-owned waterfront properties. It is chaired by the Mayor of New Bedford with six other members. The role of the NBPA is to support the Port of New Bedford by continually upgrading port resources; preserving its spot as the #1 U.S. fishing port; and expanding the New Bedford economy. The NBPA oversees all the commercial and recreational vessel activity within New Bedford city limits, incorporating the city’s entire coastline and harbor.

John Regan

john.regan@newbedford-ma.gov

Mr. Kendall is the Executive Director of New Bedford Seafood Consulting. He is a former scallop fisherman with over 50 years of experience in the fishing industry and with fisheries issues. Mr. Kendall was a member of a research team for the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation that focused on discard mortality rates of Southern New England flatfish. Mr. Kendall served as a New England Fishery Management Council member for numerous terms. He has also served on the Massachusetts Fisheries Recovery Commission, the New England Commercial Fishing Law Enforcement Working Group, and is a founding member of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership. Mr. Kendall was featured in the book A Doryman’s Reflection: A Fisherman’s Life. Additionally, Mr. Kendall has been interviewed on WBSM radio and by the New Bedford Standard Times, the Gloucester Times, and the Boston Globe on fisheries issues.

Jim Kendall

508-287-2010

nbsc@comcast.net

Sid Holbrook was born and raised in the Connecticut shoreline town of Westbrook. As a young man he spent much of his time on the water while developing a close relationship  with the local fishermen and lobstermen, including his first job picking lobster meat at a Westbrook fish market. In 1982 Sid was elected to the CT General Assembly representing the towns of Westbrook, Clinton, and Essex. In this role, Sid was appointed to the Environment Commission, served as a House Whip, served on the Long Island Bi State Commission, advocated for the fishing industry, and assisted the industry with regulatory issues. In 1995 Sid was appointed as the Commissioner of the CT Department of Environmental Protection assisting and advocating for Connecticut’s fishermen. While Commissioner, Sid was honored with membership to the Southern New England Fishermen and Lobstermen Association which he continues to be a member of to this day. Sid served as Commissioner until 1997 at which time he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor overseeing 19 state agencies. When Sid left government service in 2002 he was engaged by the Southern New England Fishermen and Lobstermen Association (SNEFLA) to act as their advisor on state and national fishing regulations. While serving in this capacity, Sid was worked with many members of the nation’s fishing community along the Atlantic coast and was appointed to a subcommittee of the New England Fishery Management Council. When the offshore wind industry approached Connecticut's fishermen on who the best representative of the industry would be, both fleet ports supported Sid to serve as a Fishing Representative. In his role, Sid attends many regional and national conferences and apprises the CT fishing fleets of activities related to offshore wind and connects with fishing liaisons assigned to Connecticut. Sid is also a member of the Commission on Environmental Standards which is advising the CT DEEP Commissioner on the procurement of energy from offshore wind developers.

Sid Holbrook

Holbrooksidholbrook@gmail.com

Captain R. Tyler Macallister has been a commercial and charter fisherman for 36 years, fishing for groundfish, striped bass and bluefin tuna in New England. Captain Macallister holds degrees in Marine and General Biology from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, where he focused on large pelagic species specifically bluefin tuna and other highly migratory species. He currently serves on several NOAA committees for both recreational and commercial fishing for highly migratory species and has contributed to the ongoing research by providing photos and videos taken from both boats and spotter planes.  He also holds a Masters Degree in Business providing a unique perspective to the economics of both recreational fishing and the impacts of regulatory, fish population fluctuation and other variables that may affect fisheries. 

Tyler Macallister

508-221-8991

fvcynthiac@comcast.net