Recreational Fishing Supporter Appointed to
Pacific Fishery Management Council
by Mary Jane Williamson
June 26, 2007—Alexandria, VA—The American Sportfishing
Association (ASA) applauds the appointment of Dan Wolford to the Pacific
Fishery Management Council (PFMC). Wolford was nominated by California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the At-Large seat and appointed
by Bill Hogarth, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries
Service. ASA supported Wolford’s nomination with a letter to
Dr. Hogarth and introduced him to members of the California Congressional
delegation in support of his candidacy.
Wolford brings to the PFMC a life-time of experience with marine conservation
issues and recreational fishing. He currently serves as the Science
Director for the Coastside Fishing Club in Pacifica, Calif. Wolford
has led many efforts to promote conservation-based recreational sportfishing
opportunities for California’s citizens.
According to ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson, “Dan Wolford
has demonstrated time and again his passion for fishing and his knowledge
and support of scientifically-based conservation of our natural resources. His
ability to work cooperatively with management agencies to find solutions
that are in the best interests of marine fishery resources will prove
to be invaluable to the PFMC.”
Some of Mr. Wolford's recent accomplishments include addressing issues
regarding recreational catch estimation methodology. For example,
he has worked to find viable data collection alternatives to the Marine
Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey that will more accurately
represent catch numbers for recreational anglers. He is currently
producing a peer-reviewed document on mortality in released rockfish
and recompression techniques for recreational anglers to decrease current
mortality levels.
He has also worked extensively with PFMC committees and the California
Department of Fish and Game to develop and implement fair and effective
fishery management techniques ranging from closures to slot limits
to gear restrictions, and beyond. An avid angler, he has become
an advocate for fishermen by exploring proven fishery management techniques
for viable applications.
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing
industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for
the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry
a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating
industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation
organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists when
emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing
business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures
to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well
as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic, and conservation
values of sportfishing in America.
