Newburyport, MA - For a third consecutive year, the New England Fishery Management Council has elected veteran Council member and Gloucester, MA marine surveyor Tom Hill as its Chairman. This year, Mr. Hill’s leadership was confirmed by acclamation at the Council’s September 25, 2001 meeting in New Bedford, MA. Noting that successful rebuilding of key New England fish stocks continues to occur, the re-elected Chairman said, “now, more than ever, we must stay focused on the goal of rebuilding sustainable fisheries. We have experienced recent successes, but we have a great deal of work ahead, especially in the areas of capacity, reducing discards and addressing habitat concerns.

At the same meeting the twenty-two member Council again acknowledged the experience and contributions of Mr. Eric Smith of Connecticut, who was named Vice Chair by acclamation. Mr. Smith has served in this position since 1993, and is Assistant Director of the Fisheries Division of Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Three other members were elected to serve on the Council’s five-person Executive Committee, a group that approves appointments to advisory panels and oversees budget management and other administrative matters. They are Ms. Barbara Stevenson, a fishing vessel owner and seller’s representative at the Portland, Maine Fish Exchange, Mr. Frank Blount, president of a Narragansett, RI deep-sea fishing and whale-watch expedition business and commercial fisherman Anthony Fernandes of Kittery, ME.

Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans appointed two new members to the Council for three-year terms. They are commercial fishing industry representative and Rhode Island Seafood Council Executive Director Ralph Boragine and Mr. Mark Amorello of Pembroke, MA, Chairman of the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Commission, and a veteran commercial as well as recreational fisherman. Mr. Erik Anderson, a commercial fisherman from Portsmouth, NH, was re-appointed to his state’s obligatory seat for three more years.

The Council is responsible for managing fishery resources within the 200 mile limit of the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the five New England coastal states. Twelve of the Council members are nominated by the governors of these states and are appointed because of their knowledge and experience regarding the conservation and management, or the commercial or recreational harvest of fishery resources in New England. Other members serve on behalf of their respective state or federal agencies.