News 2013: UMass Dartmouth's Marine Fisheries Institute Renews Mission with Formation of Advisory Council

News 2013: UMass Dartmouth's Marine Fisheries Institute Renews Mission with Formation of Advisory Council
UMass Dartmouth's Marine Fisheries Institute Renews Mission with Formation of Advisory Council

UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), is pleased to announce the formation of the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute Advisory Council.

UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), is pleased to announce the formation of the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute Advisory Council. The creation of the advisory council affirms the institute's mission as it moves forward in addressing critical issues related to our fisheries and fishing communities. 

"The Council will play a vital role in providing guidance on future priorities and initiatives of the MFI," said Steven E. Lohrenz, Dean of SMAST and Co-Chair of MFI. "We are privileged to have such a distinguished group of council members and grateful for the generous contribution of their time and commitment to this important endeavor." 

MFI seeks to develop scientifically-based innovative and practical fisheries management applications contributing to the understanding, management, economic growth and sustainability of our oceans and the communities that border the ocean. The MFI Advisory Council consists of individuals with expertise that will prove essential to the institute accomplishing its goals. The members are appointed from faculty and academic leadership within the UMass system, as well as, external experts and professionals from stakeholder groups with interests in the MFI mission. 

"The Commonwealth's fishing economy is centuries old and has long been a cornerstone for the global production and distribution of seafood," said Paul Diodati, Director of the DMF and fellow MFI co-chair. "A principal goal of the Institute is to stabilize and build this important marine industry." 

A list of the Council members is given below. The MFI is a cooperative activity of SMAST at UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts DMF. 

MFI Advisory Council Members 
Ramprasad Balasubramanian (Ram Bala) Associate Dean, College of Engineering, UMass Dartmouth 
Rip Cunningham Chair, New England Fisheries Management Council 
Harriet Didriksen President, New Bedford Ship Supply 
Roy Enoksen Eastern Fisheries, New Bedford 
Steve Goodwin Dean, College of Natural Sciences, UMass Amherst 
Mary Griffin Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game 
Robyn Hannigan Dean, School of the Environment, UMass Boston 
Eric Hansen Hansen Scalloping Inc, F/V Endeavor 
Bill Karp Director, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center 
James Kendall New Bedford Seafood Consulting 
Jake Kritzer Science Advisor, Environmental Defense Fund 
Frank Mirarchi Fishing Captain, Scituate 
Ken Oliveira Associate Professor, UMass Dartmouth (biology) 
Michael Orbach Director, Duke Marine Lab 
John Quinn UMass Dartmouth (law school) 
Mike Sissenwine Visiting Scholar and Adjunct Scientist at WHOI