OUR COALITION

We are:

  • Fishermen

  • Business leaders

  • Scientists

  • Natural resource managers

  • Technologists

  • Ocean experts

  • Conservationists

  • Philanthropists

…and a broad and growing collective of people and organizations that care deeply about the future of our oceans and the communities that depend upon them for their well being. We are bound together by an understanding that improving how we use information to plan and manage our vast ocean resources can have an outsized and immensely positive impact on their economic, social and ecological performance.

NGA TEAM

The Leadership Team works in tandem with the Advisory Panel, and a growing convening of industry, technology, management, policy and advocacy experts who jointly understand the importance of modern and robust information systems in supporting sustainable planning and management of ocean resources.

——— LEADERSHIP TEAM ———

George Chmael
Council Fire

George’s broad environmental and social development expertise incorporates a variety of areas including ocean planning, fisheries, water and air quality, community, land use, transportation planning, and energy policy. He has led a full spectrum of oceans and other natural resource management initiatives, working closely with the fishing and seafood industries, governments, nonprofits and other stakeholders around the world. Read George’s bio here.

George Lapointe
Council Fire

George has more than 30 years of experience in marine fisheries and ocean policy, and is a globally respected expert in the management of natural resources and marine fisheries at local, state, regional, national, and international levels. Read George’s bio here.

Kate Wing
Intertidal Agency

Kate is an experienced oceans and fisheries management and technology expert, and founder of the databranch, a nonprofit making connections across the conservation and technology sectors for digital stewardship for a changing planet.

 

——— ADVISORY PANEL ———

Captain Rick Bellavance
Priority Fishing Charters

Owner and Operator, Priority Fishing Charters. A lifelong resident of Rhode Island, Rick is the current President of the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association and he was appointed in 2016 to represent Rhode Island on the New England Fisheries Management Council.

Eric Brazer
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance

Deputy Director, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance. Eric manages the largest organization of commercial snapper and grouper fishermen in the Gulf, and works to protect the Gulf’s fish and fishermen for today and for future generations.

John Carmichael
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which works to conserve and manage America’s recreational and commercial fisheries off the coast’s of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Florida.

Leigh Habegger
Seafood Harvesters of America

Executive Director, Seafood Harvesters of America, which represents 16 commercial fishing associations across the country.

William A. Karp, Ph.D.
University of Washington

Affiliate Professor, University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Bill is a 30 year veteran of NOAA Fisheries.

Nancy Munro
Saltwater Inc.

Founder and President, Saltwater Inc., a recognized innovator in the use of new technology and electronic monitoring for fisheries and oceans data collection.

Michelle McClure
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

Director of the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Michelle is leading one of Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ten field labs shifting to oceanography, as before this role, Michelle served as the director of the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, leading the scientific support for the management of west coast groundfishes.

Chris McGuire
The Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts

Marine Program Director, The Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts, Chris has been a leader in the development and implementation of Electronic Monitoring in the New England groundfish fishery since 2015.

Geoffrey White
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program

Director, Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program. Geoffrey has been with the Commission for more than 20 years and has worked in various capacities. He is an information systems management and fisheries data collection and dissemination expert.

 

—————— EMERITUS ——————

Dorothy Lowman

Dorothy is a nationally renowned fisheries management expert who has worked in a variety of capacities including nine years on the Pacific Fishery Management Council, three of which she served as chair, and continues as a US Commissioner to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Dorothy has led many fisheries-related workshops including the first National Electronic Monitoring Workshop in 2014 and co-authored the Fisheries Monitoring Roadmap in 2013.

Scott Burns

Scott has extensive environmental expertise and has enjoyed an illustrious career in conservation spanning more than 30 years, covering a broad array of sectors, with a particular emphasis on fisheries management and fisheries finance.