Commerce Department Announces Regional Fishery Management Council Appointments
Washington, D.C. – August 1, 2024 – Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the 2024 Regional Fishery Management Council (RFMC) appointments. The recreational fishing community thanks the Administration for considering their preferred candidates and appointing many recreation-friendly council members. These include: Mike Pierdinock of Massachusetts and William Lucey of Connecticut to the New England Council; James Gilmore of New York, Greg Hueth of New Jersey and Skip Feller of Virginia to the Mid Atlantic Council; Judy Helmey of Georgia to the South Atlantic Council; Jonathan Dugas and Billy Broussard of Louisiana and Jason Osborne of Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico Council; Corey Ridings of California to the Pacific Council; Brian Ritchie of Alaska to the North Pacific Council, and Matthew Ramsey of Hawaii to the Western Pacific Council.
“Managing America’s marine fisheries is no easy task, and we extend our gratitude to all qualified volunteers who stepped up for the 2024 Council appointment process,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Sportfishing Policy. “We appreciate Secretary Raimondo’s careful consideration in selecting appointees, but it is frustrating to see continued underrepresentation of genuine recreational fishing representatives who prioritize conservation, access and opportunity for America’s anglers. The regional fishery management councils play a crucial role in shaping policies that impact federal fisheries and having bona fide recreational fishing advocates at the table is critical to the future of saltwater recreational fishing and America’s Blue Economy.”
“While both demanding and thankless, there are few appointments as impactful for saltwater recreational anglers as serving on a regional fishery management council,” said Chris Horton, senior director of fisheries policy for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “We sincerely appreciate all who were willing to put their name in the hat, and we look forward to working with those who were selected as we tackle the many barriers to effective recreational fisheries management that we frequently face today.”
“It takes a commitment from serious people to properly manage something as valued and cherished as the nation’s marine resources, and we appreciate everyone who seeks to fulfill these roles on the fishery management councils,” said Patrick Murray, president of Coastal Conservation Association. “There are significant challenges facing recreational anglers in the federal fisheries management system and open-minded, thoughtful discussions are essential to addressing them. We are excited to see what impact the new appointees will have on this process.”
Pierdinock has been a recreational angler all his life and for over 19 years has operated his own small business charter boat operation. He is well-known in the region’s fishing community as a knowledgeable and respected voice on fisheries issues. He has an excellent understanding and command of fishery management issues and has applied his expertise in serving on the New England Council Recreational Advisory Panel, the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel, the Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association, the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission and as the United States representative on the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Advisory Committee. Additionally, he has been appointed to several fisheries advisory committees because of his added on-the-water expertise including U.S. ICCAT, NMFS Highly Migratory Species AP, MA Recreational Fisheries Development Panel and Workgroup on Offshore Wind, the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.
Lucey’s experience includes serving as a Peace Corps fisheries extensionist in Central America; working as a federal fisheries technician in Alaska, and holding commercial fishing permits for salmon and halibut. He has also engaged in various roles such as a field biologist, a coastal program planner and a municipal worker focused on fishing industry infrastructure and policies. Lucey works as the Long Island Soundkeeper for Save the Sound, a nonprofit advocating for water quality and fisheries conservation.
Gilmore brings extensive experience, leadership and problem-solving skills to the MAFMC as the former Director of Marine Resources for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. He has a proven track record in balancing the interests of recreational and commercial fishing sectors, notably through the expansion of New York’s Artificial Reef program and the creation of a $30 million LEED Certified Marine Division Headquarters.
Hueth brings practical and current industry knowledge to marine fisheries management. His dedication is evident through his roles on various fisheries management councils and advisory boards, including chairing the Save The Summer Flounder Fishery Fund and membership in the Mid-Atlantic Advisory Councils. As President of Shark River Surf Anglers and Chairman of the Shark River Children’s Trout Tournament, he is committed to sound management and conservation of marine resources.
Feller is a third-generation owner/operator of a fleet of vessels that includes six recreational fishing and cruising vessels that sail from Virginia Beach. He obtained his 100-ton Masters license in 1984 and has maintained his qualifications since that time. Capt. Feller’s fishing trips specialize in and target tilefish, flounder and black sea bass. He serves on the Mid-Atlantic Council advisory panels for summer flounder, black sea bass and tilefish. Capt. Feller also serves on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
Helmey is the best-known fishing guide in Savannah, Ga. She is the owner of Miss Judy Charters, which provides inshore, offshore and Gulf Stream fishing experiences from a fleet of three offshore boats and seven inshore boats. She started fishing as a small child with her father, Captain Sherman Helmey about whom she authored the book, “My Father, the Sea and Me.” Helmey’s knowledge of fishing in the waters of coastal Georgia and South Carolina is unparalleled, and she readily shares that knowledge through her popular “how-to” fishing clinics and fishing reports featured in several print and digital media outlets. Always a strong voice for conservation, she has supported fishery management by serving on advisory panels and making her facilities and staff available for data collection.
Dugas is an active and well-respected leader in the Louisiana recreational fishing community. He has 30 years of experience as a recreational fisherman for both inshore and offshore Gulf of Mexico species. He also has a strong understanding of the fisheries management process and is a board member of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana.
Broussard has lived every sector of marine fisheries: commercial, charter/for hire and recreational. A licensed commercial fisherman for 30-plus years, he currently harvests crabs but has commercially fished for various finfish his whole life. He is an avid offshore recreational angler whenever possible, and he spent a decade as a charter boat captain. He owned a general store for 20 years that serviced both commercial and recreational fishermen. He previously served on the board of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and served as a member of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission for four different governors.
Osborne boasts nearly 30 years of experience in national and international government affairs, contributing significantly to the 1996 amendments of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Appointed to the Mississippi Advisory Commission on Marine Resources (MACMR) by Governor Tate Reeves, he represents nonprofit environmental organizations. Osborne has deep insights into marine fisheries law and its implication for coastal states and stakeholders.
Ridings has built strong support from the conservation and sportfishing community through her years of advocacy and practical approach to fisheries management. While Ridings is not a formal member of the recreational fishing industry, her well-rounded background provides California with balanced and informed representation on the Council.
Ritchie has been involved in recreational and commercial fishing for over a decade. He understands how important good science and sustainable fisheries management are to Alaska and coastal communities. He holds a master’s degree in environmental science from Alaska Pacific University and is a current member of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council Advisory Panel and the Conference Board Co-Chair of the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
Ramsey is a lifelong recreational fisherman who believes the connection between people and our natural resources is a powerful force in bringing about change in resource management. He is the Hawaii director of a conservation organization and previously served as the Hawaii fisheries extension agent for NOAA Fisheries. Ramsey is an incumbent Council member who demonstrates a collaborative approach to fisheries management.
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