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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 33 Number 12
August 2005
NE council bids fond farewell to four members
PORTLAND, ME – In a bittersweet moment that marked a major changing of the guard, the New England Fishery Management Council paid tribute to four of its own on June 23.
Wrapping up their final council meeting were:
John Williamson of Maine, who served three consecutive terms and is being replaced by Jim Salisbury of Maine;
Bud Fernandes of Maine, who opted not to seek a third term and is being replaced by Mike Leary of New Hampshire;
Lew Flagg, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) designee to the council, who is retiring and is being temporarily replaced by DMR Commissioner George Lapointe; and
Capt. Mark Landry of the First Coast Guard District, who was promoted and is being replaced by Capt. Jim McPherson.
Salisbury, Leary, Lapointe, and McPherson will be seated for the first time when the council next meets Sept. 13-15 in Fairhaven, MA.
Council Chairman Frank Blount of Rhode Island presented each departing member with a commemorative plaque after words of appreciation were read by Executive Director Paul Howard. Each member responded with a few words of his own. Here is what they had to say.
John Williamson
During his nine years on the council, Williamson served on most of the species committees, as well as special interest committees such as gear conflict and research steering.
“Your unique perspective on the very difficult fishery management issues we have faced has been invaluable,” said Howard. “You helped to shape positions on many important issues confronting the council during a difficult decade.”
Williamson acknowledged, “It’s been a very tough nine years. This has been a very humane and humbling experience for me.”
But Williamson said he believed the future looked promising, even though the fishing community would continue to face hurdles.
“Others before me have said the best years of fisheries in New England are in front of us and I think that’s true, though I don’t think the challenges are any less,” he said.
Williamson also reflected back on the people he worked with over time. At the beginning of his service, Joe Brancaleone of Gloucester was council chairman, Doug Marshall was executive director, Paul Howard was still in a Coast Guard uniform, and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrator Pat Kurkul was a “young staff member.”
“You don’t realize how long nine years has been until you look back,” he said.
Bud Fernandes
Fernandes’ on-the-water experience in numerous fisheries – particularly groundfish and monkfish – greatly benefited the council during his tenure. With a solid grasp on gear and how it works, Fernandes helped the council understand the feasibility and practicality behind many of its proposals.
“You have been instrumental in helping us to examine problems from all angles, in particular encouraging us to harness the ingenuity and resourcefulness of fishermen to achieve our conservation goals,” said Howard. “Your participation has been particularly noteworthy on the groundbreaking research steering and trawl survey committees.”
Howard began Fernandes’ tribute by recalling the controversy that surrounded his appointment six years ago. Although he lives in Maine, Fernandes fishes out of Portsmouth and was nominated by the state of New Hampshire. In response to his appointment, US Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) pushed through Congress legislation to create an additional seat on the council.
“Who could forget the debate over the so-called Maine seat and the addition of an 18th voting member?” he said.
Fernandes didn’t shy away from this comment.
“I appreciate the opportunity through the state of New Hampshire to represent the fishermen, and I appreciate this council for listening,” he said.
Lew Flagg
Lew Flagg, who is retiring from his post as DMR’s deputy commissioner for external affairs effective Aug. 26, began representing Maine on the council in 1998.
Howard said Flagg arrived “in the nick of time to help the council face some of its greatest challenges.”
While Flagg, too, has served on most of the council’s committees at one time or another, Howard said he deserved “special recognition for his expert chairmanship of the herring committee,” where Flagg exhibited “patience during long and frustrating meetings” and had “an ability to bring diverse interests together.”
Flagg acknowledged, “There have been some trying times.”
But he added, “Everyone works in the true spirit of cooperation. We can candidly discuss the situation and disagree but still walk away being friends.”
Flagg gave particular credit to the dozens of staffers who support the council, not just within the council’s own staff but from NMFS, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, the Coast Guard, the enforcement community, and state agencies.
“I don’t think we could ask for better folks in helping us make this process work,” he said.
Capt. Mark Landry
Landry began his service at the council table five years ago and has had considerable input on enforcement and safety issues. Always friendly and approachable by anyone in industry, Landry helped foster positive interactions among fishermen, the Coast Guard, and the council.
“The council honors your outstanding service and respects the commitment and loyalty you displayed as our Coast Guard representative,” said Howard. “Your knowledge and input … have been invaluable as we struggle to balance resource conservation and the social and economic impacts of our programs.”
As a representative of a military organization, Landry said he always tried to be frank. Candid in acknowledging that much had changed since Sept. 11, Landry also said he believed the Coast Guard has succeeded in making its heightened surveillance and detection operations on the water as “invisible” as possible.
In a final nod of thanks to the council, Landry said, “I’m indebted to almost everyone around the table for their help on safety issues, and I appreciate the chance I had to ride on some of your boats. It was a pleasure to represent the Coast Guard here.”
Janice M. Plante
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