Council Members

The 18 voting members of the Council include the Regional Administrator of NOAA Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region (GARFO) and the five principal state officials with marine fishery management responsibility (or their designee) from CT, ME, MA, NH, and RI.

Twelve other NEFMC members are nominated by the governors of the New England coastal states and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce for three-year terms. Additionally, four non-voting members represent the United States Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of State, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Financial Interest of Members

Council members may have an interest in any fishery-related harvesting, processing, lobbying, advocacy, or marketing activity as long as they disclose the extent of this interest to the public. This ensures that knowledgeable fishing industry members can serve on the Council. Council members are not allowed to vote on matters that would benefit only them or a minority of other people within the same sector or gear group.

Council member financial disclosure forms must be available for public inspection on the internet and at the Council office. Details of this requirement are provided in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in Section 302 (j) DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL INTEREST AND RECUSAL and in the Code of Federal Regulations available online.

Pictured above are the New England Fishery Management Council’s 2024-2025 members. Front row from left to right: Council Executive Director Cate O’Keefe, Cheri Patterson (New Hampshire), Council Vice Chair Daniel Salerno (New Hampshire), Megan Ware (Maine), Togue Brawn (Maine), Council Chair Rick Bellavance (Rhode Island), Melanie Griffin (Massachusetts), Alan Tracy (Maine), Jackie Odell (Massachusetts), and Bill Lucey (Connecticut). Back row from left to right: Scott Olszewski (Rhode Island), U.S. Coast Guard LT Tom Bleifuss (designee), Northeast Fisheries Science Center Director Jon Hare, Ted Platz (Rhode Island), Mitch MacDonald (NOAA General Counsel), Mid-Atlantic Council Liaison Peter Hughes, Peter Whelan (New Hampshire), Peter Aarrestad (Connecticut), Mike Pierdinock (Massachusetts), and Eric Hansen (Massachusetts). Absent: Geoff Smith (Maine), John Pappalardo (Massachusetts), and NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator Mike Pentony. – NEFMC photo