Editor's note: We do not personally know the below people whom the ASMFC awarded.

But this raises a real question for recreational anglers: Are these awards a slap in our face?

Perhaps the work that the individuals who were awarded deserves praise. Maybe they were hard workers doing the best they could within limited options the government provided them to do better.

But, for example, when the below says Dr. Mark Terceiro was partly awarded because he "has ensured that the best available scientific information has been provided to support management decisions," the science, or surveys of the fish population, are a heart of what recreational anglers criticize about the government's fisheries management: The surveys are highly inaccurate, apparently because the government is unwilling to fund better science, yet the government is always doing things like closing down our fisheries, based on the science.

The government also appears to close down fisheries because of big-money environmental groups like Pew, who oppose fishing.

One would think that after all these years, the government would at least stop making sudden closures.

Get it right, government.

At the very least, the wording of the below appears oblivious to recreational anglers' concerns about fisheries.

From the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 5, 2010
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 202/289-6400
Alexandria, VA – Mr. Vito Calomo, Dr. Mark Terceiro, and Ms. Kim McKown were presented the Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence at its Spring Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia for their contributions to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast.  Mr. Calomo received an award in the Legislative category, while Dr. Terceirco and Ms. McKown received awards in the Scientific, Technical, and Advisory category.

“Every year a great many people contribute to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast.  The Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding efforts by professionals who have made a difference in the way we manage and conserve our fisheries,” said ASMFC Chair, Robert H. Boyles, Jr., of South Carolina. “Today, we honor several outstanding individuals for their contributions to the management and conservation of Atlantic coast fisheries.”

Legislative

Mr. Vito Calomo has been involved in New England fisheries management issues for nearly half a century.  He began his career working in various capacities for the fishing industry, from organizing and managing longshoremen crew for a fleet of vessels, to trawling for groundfish and northern shrimp, to purse seining for Atlantic herring.  For the last 15 years, he has been a dedicated and passionate advocate for New England commercial fishermen at the state, interstate and federal levels.  He brought his extensive fisheries experience to the Commission process first as an industry advisor on the Commission’s Atlantic Herring and Northern Shrimp Advisory Panels and later as proxy to Massachusetts’ Legislative Appointee, Representative Anthony Verga. He actively participated on all the management boards for which Massachusetts had an interest, fervently promoting positions beneficial to New England’s commercial fishermen.  Mr. Calomo also chaired the Commission’s Legislative Committee for four years, ensuring their views and concerns were fully integrated in the Commission’s decision-making processes.  Outside of formal meetings, he was instrumental in bringing Commissioners, staff, and scientists together, providing opportunities to meet one another personally to informally discuss issues and exchange ideas.  A lifelong proponent for New England fishermen and the fishing community, Mr. Calomo’s efforts improved communication among various participants in the Commission’s process, enhancing the involvement of the fishing industry in the management process.

Scientific, Technical, and Advisory

Through his scientific analyses and technical committee involvement, Dr. Mark Terceiro of the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center has ensured that the best available scientific information has been provided to support management decisions programs for scup and summer flounder. For nearly two decades, he has played an active role on the Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Technical Committee, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committees, and the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Southern Demersal Working Group. He was the lead biologist for the Data Poor Working Group scup stock assessment that was peer reviewed and accepted, a major accomplishment given that scup stocks have not had an acceptable analytical assessment for many years.  As a result of his efforts, managers have been able to incorporate stronger scientific advice into their management decisions.  For many years, Dr. Terceiro has successfully performed and defended the benchmark assessments and annual stock assessment updates for summer flounder.  His rigorous and thorough analyses have consistently produced strong, defensible assessments and lent considerable credibility to the scientific foundation of our management decisions for this very important and controversial Mid-Atlantic species.  Dr. Terceiro’s impressive contributions, coupled with his dedication and devotion to his work, make him an extremely valuable asset to the fisheries management process.

Ms. Kim McKown, Senior Fisheries Biologist with the New York State Department of Conservation (NYSDEC), has been involved in fisheries research and monitoring activities for 25 years and in the Commission’s science activities for almost two decades.  Her early work focused on oversight of NYSDEC’s sampling programs for striped bass and Atlantic sturgeon.  Today, she leads research and monitoring activities for American lobster, horseshoe crab, and other crustacea in New York’s coastal waters.  Over the years, Ms. McKown has been a contributor on several ASMFC committees, including the Atlantic Striped Bass Technical and Tagging Committees, the Horseshoe Crab Technical and Stock Assessment Committees, and the Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Subcommittee and Plan Review Team.  For the last two years, she chaired the Lobster Stock Assessment Subcommittee, instrumental in the completion and approval of the 2009 benchmark stock assessment by peer review, which will provide the foundation for lobster management actions over the next few years.  She also serves as Vice Chair of the Assessment Science Committee, the Commission’s oversight body for all stock assessment and peer review activities.  This past March, Ms. McKown chaired the peer review panels for both the Atlantic croaker and Atlantic menhaden benchmark stock assessments.  Ms. McKown has added the strength and credibility to the Commission’s science process through her impressive work ethic, high leadership skills, and strong adherence to high scientific standards.  

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