FISHING COMMUNITIES COALITION APPLAUDS APPOINTMENT OF JOHN PAPPALARDO TO NEW ENGLAND FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

NOAA Fisheries Appointment of Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance CEO Gives Science-Based Management a Boost

Washington, DC – The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) applauds Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries Chris Oliver for reappointing John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, to the New England Fishery Management Council for another three-year term. The FCC, which strongly supported Pappalardo’s nomination by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker in March, hailed the appointment as a victory for science-based fishery management and the communities that rely on stable fish stocks.

Linda Behnken, Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, who was honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change” in 2016 for her work on fishing sustainability, made the following statement:

“John Pappalardo remains a strong advocate for long-term, science-based decision-making, and the Fishing Communities Coalition is grateful to Secretary Ross, Assistant Administrator Oliver and Governor Baker for their support. Mr. Pappalardo has decades of experience in sustainable fisheries management and has a comprehensive understanding of both federal fisheries and the needs of small-boat fishermen. He has worked diligently to develop and support solutions to the many complex issues facing New England fisheries and is committed to supporting the next generation of commercial fishermen.”