Sanctuary Advisory Council Members

Karen Steuer
Primary

Karen Steuer is currently retired and lives in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts. Before retiring in 2022, for 17 years Karen was the senior director for government relations at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington D.C., where she worked on global government outreach and environmental advocacy for issues ranging from international marine protected areas to regulation of concentrated animal feeding operations. Prior to joining Pew, Karen worked at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, managing wildlife trade issues for IFAW offices in 13 nations. Her experience also includes 10 years as legislative staff on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, during which time she had responsibility for drafting the legislation that created the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and for the Marine Mammal Protection Act provisions that regulate commercial fishing interactions with marine mammals. She has participated as both a U.S. delegate and a non-governmental observer to international meetings of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the International Whaling Commission, and the United Nations Organization for Economic Cooperation and development. From 1985-1990, Karen served as a whale watch naturalist and director of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, and is proud to have been among those who first advocated for the nomination of Stellwagen Bank for sanctuary status.

Wayne Petersen
Alternate

Wayne R. Petersen is Director of the Massachusetts Important Bird Areas (IBA)
Program at the Massachusetts Audubon Society. As author of A Field Guide to Birds of Massachusetts (2017) and co-author of Birds of Massachusetts (1993) and Birds of New England (2004), and a co-editor of the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas 1 (2003) and Breeding Bird Atlas 2 (2013) his knowledge of the habitats, distribution, and status of the Commonwealth's bird life is both extensive and wide-ranging. A New England Regional Editor for North American Birds magazine (1988-2016) and editor of the New England Christmas Bird Count (1983-present), Wayne's knowledge of the seasonal distribution of New England bird life gives him a wide perspective when thinking about IBAs in New England and beyond. Among his other writing projects are authorship and contributions to The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, and Arctic Wings. Wayne has led international birding tours for Mass Audubon and Field Guides, Inc. throughout North and South America, Africa and Madagascar, Iceland and Svalbard, Australia and New Zealand, and Antarctica. He serves on the advisory committee of the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Council, and is a board member of the Wildlands Trust. In 2005 Wayne was the recipient of the American Birding Association's Ludlow Griscom Award for outstanding contributions in regional ornithology.

Terri Birkeland
Primary

Terri Birkeland is an experienced internal communicator for financial services companies, focusing on employee programs and supporting them as a writer/editor, presenter, facilitator, and project manager. It is her professional experience, combined with her drive and passion for marine life and the environment, that compelled her to pursue a seat on the SAC. Her interest in the sanctuary began decades ago, when she requested a copy of the original environmental impact statement for some light reading. She has over 15 years of experience as a proactive and committed aquarium volunteer with the New York Aquarium and the New England Aquarium's Whale Watch, and now with the sanctuary. In addition to dozens of whale watch trips out of Cape Cod, Boston's North and South Shores, and New Hampshire's Seacoast, Terri has traveled to see and learn about marine mammals in their environment with visits to Grand Manan Island & the Bay of Fundy, the Mingan Islands in Quebec, the San Juan Islands in Washington State, Silver Bank in the Dominican Republic, San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California, and Lake Michigan and Lake Superior in the Midwest. A graduate of Northeastern University, Terri is a native New Yorker who now lives on Boston's South Shore.

Stephen Lehmann
Alternate

Stephen Lehmann is currently retired and living in Lowell, MA. He served as the NOAA Senior Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for the New England region from 1990 to 2020, providing training, contingency planning support and coordinating scientific advice to the US Coast Guard, state agencies and others. He acted as the SSC for every notable marine pollution emergency in the region during that time. In addition, Mr. Lehmann developed contingency plans, providing training or coordinated on-scene scientific support on major spills around the country and internationally.

On-Scene Spill Responses include: Deepwater Horizon Event, Louisiana 2010: Area Command, Persian Gulf War Oil Spill 1991, Exxon Valdez, 1990, 1991, 1992, Wellborn, Madagascar 1993, North Cape, Rhode Island 1996, Julie N, Maine 1996, TWA 800 Crash, Long Island 1996, Aircraft N9253 Recovery, Massachusetts (John F. Kennedy, Jr.) 1999, Selendang Ayu, Alaska 2004, Athos-1, Pennsylvania 2004, DBL-152, Texas 2005, Bouchard 120, Massachusetts 2003, Empire Knight, Maine (sunken WWII ship, 8 tons of mercury, on-going), Bow Mariner, Virginia 2004, Morris J. Berman, Puerto Rico 1994, US Navy Base-Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico 1999, COIMBRA (leaking sunken WWII tanker, 500,000 gallons of oil removed) 2019.

On-Scene Hurricane Responses include: Katrina (oil spills), Louisiana 2005; Ike, Texas 2008; Sandy, New York/New Jersey, 2012, and Harvey, Texas, 2017.

Mr. Lehmann also represented NOAA and the Dept. of Commerce at the National Response Team (Chairman Science & Technology Comm 2006-2020 and Executive Secretariat 2006-2020); Regional Response Team One (New England): 2005-2020; Regional Response Team Five (Great Lakes & Inland Rivers): 2005-2020; Joint US/Canada Response Team (Atlantic and Great Lakes), 2005-2020; Interagency Coordinating Committee for Oil Pollution Research: 2008-2020; and Technical Support Team to US Navy COMFIFTHFLEET (Southwest Asia), 2004-2020

Chris McGuire (Chair)
Primary

Chris McGuire is the Marine Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts.  He is focused on implementing collaborative solutions to pressing fisheries and ocean conservation challenges.  The Conservancy is a global leader in improving natural resource management for the benefit of both people and nature, and here in Massachusetts Chris leads monitoring projects in the New England groundfish fishery, and has recently been the principal investigator on collaborative research projects focused on iconic New England species like Atlantic cod and halibut.  Chris serves on state, regional and federal advisory committees and working groups, and regularly presents his work at national and international workshops and conferences.  Before joining the Conservancy in 2011 he was a faculty member and Captain aboard oceanographic research vessels at Sea Education Association for more than a decade.  He has a B.A. from Connecticut College, earned a Master's in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, and holds a 1600 Ton US Coast Guard Ocean Master's License.

Annie Murphy, PhD
Alternate

Dr. Annie Murphy is a marine ecosystem ecologist with expertise in sediment biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, shellfish aquaculture, and marine environmental change. After completing her doctorate at Virginia Institute of Marine Science and a postdoc at Northeastern, Annie recently moved back to her hometown, Scituate, MA, with her husband and two children. She is a senior scientist at INSPIRE Environmental, where she develops and executes research and monitoring programs aimed at understanding the ecology and multi-faceted value of coastal and offshore benthic (seafloor) habitats, and how this may be affected by human activities. Through her work, Annie serves as an advisor to various stakeholder groups who are all involved and invested in some way in the use of our oceans. She views the sanctuary advisory council as an important link between active scientific research, the community, and ocean resource management and policy. A link that is critical to grow our understanding of Stellwagen Bank’s unique ecological, economic, and cultural value as our dependence on ocean resources continues to diversify and evolve.

Dawn F. Massa Stancavish
Primary

Dawn is the President/CEO & Chief Innovation Officer, third generation at Massa Products Corporation, and holds a seat on the Board of Directors. Her talents are in Business Strategy, and she serves to develop the business both internally and externally. She is responsible for increasing the amount of new product sales at Massa and encouraging customers and partners alike to be proud to sport the MassaSonic® Brand for co-branded developments. She is in charge of all Innovation, New Product Development, Marketing and Sales, and is the liaison
between the needs of the industrial/consumer/oceanographic/military world and the technical capabilities of Massa. She is also responsible for preserving and sharing the family values, traditions, and culture at the company. Dawn is a published writer and artist. She holds a master's degree in Psychology from Fairleigh Dickenson University with a focus on Systems Dynamics, has a Certificate in Finance from Harvard Business School, and is a U.S. Patent holder. She also works closely in partnership with Northeastern University in Boston to bring in new COOP students to Massa. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees, Overseers' Leadership Council & Governance Committee for the South Shore Conservatory, and of course, on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) for NOAA.

Alternate - Vacant

Kimberley Crocker Pearson
Primary

Kim Pearson is a physician specializing in occupational and environmental health and a consultant in environmental science and policy. She has served as an environmental health and safety advisor to major construction projects including the Central Artery Construction Project, as well as a consultant to the Massachusetts Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment on topics such as cancer clusters and other environmental health concerns. She holds a bachelor's degree in geology from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in geochemistry from UCLA. Dr. Pearson received her medical degree from Boston University, completed residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and fellowship training in Occupational and Environmental Medicine in addition to an MPH at the Harvard School of Public Health. She has held teaching appointments at Harvard Medical School, Northeastern University School of Nursing, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Following a parenting hiatus during which she taught science and mathematics in D.C. schools and served on the board of several educational and environmental non-profit organizations, she pursued a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University which she completed in 2020. Her research interests include the development of evidence-based conservation strategies and the implementation of citizen science in the approach to climate change and biodiversity conservation. A ninth generation Cape Codder, Kim is based in Brewster, Massachusetts, where she consults on conservation science and policy.

Rich Delaney
Alternate

Richard F. Delaney is the former President and CEO of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA. Previously, Mr. Delaney was the founding Director of the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston; served as Assistant Secretary of Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts for Governor Dukakis; was the National Chair of the Coastal States Organization in Washington DC representing the views of the 35 coastal states, Great Lake states and US territories and their Governors on legislative and budgetary matters before Congress.

Mr. Delaney has provided consultations to governments in over 20 countries, regarding coastal and ocean management, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and public education outreach campaigns and was actively involved with preparations for the Earth Summit Rio +20 held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 focusing on sustainable develop and conservation of global oceans and coasts.

He also serves as Chair of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council; Chair for the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission and Chair of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce's Wastewater Task Force.

He has BS in Political Science from Harvard, has completed graduate studies in environmental planning and landscape architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry and completed a Certificate Program for Senior Executives at JKF School of Government.

Iben Munck
Primary

Iben Munck was born in Denmark and moved to Cape Cod in her teens. She serves as Executive Officer for IUCN's Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy, as well as Executive and Communications Manager for Conservation International's Center for Communities and Conservation. She holds a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management and speaks French, German, Danish, and English. 

Iben's first career was in tourism, living and leading land tours in Morocco, Thailand, France, England, Spain, Scotland, Costa Rica, and the USA. She then spent years at sea as an excursion manager on Cunard's cruise ships, observing the often negative environmental, economic, and social impacts of ill-considered developments along coastlines, and the frequent damage to local small livelihoods by larger corporations. Decades of travel and living in different cultures and countries provided her with a deep commitment to community empowerment and environmental protection, prompting her to change careers.

She worked in a variety of roles for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, including responding to marine mammal strandings around Cape Cod, cleaning oiled seabirds, as well as the organization's Elephant Program Officer, before taking a position with Conservation International in 2010.  Additionally, she owns a lodging business on Cape Cod, providing her with a deep understanding of the local tourism-driven economy and allowing her to share her love for the exceptional beauty of Cape Cod with friends, family and visitors.

Laura Ganley, PhD
Alternate

Laura Ganley is a Research Scientist in the Spatial Ecology and Mapping Program (EcoMap) at the New England Aquarium/Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, and has been studying large whales in the Gulf of Maine since 2005. She has extensive aerial survey experience, having flown right whale surveys in the southeast U.S., Cape Cod Bay, and southern New England. She has also flown surveys in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas directed at bowhead, gray, and beluga whales. Laura’s Ph.D. dissertation centered on estimating right whale abundance from aerial surveys and using mechanistic models to determine environmental and biological drivers of variations in abundance. In EcoMap, Laura uses species distribution and mechanistic models to further our understanding of the impacts of climate change on whale distribution. Most recently, Laura has used these models to determine that climate change is lengthening the right whale season in Cape Cod Bay, define the environmental drivers of cetacean species diversity along the eastern U.S. seaboard, develop species distribution models for large whales in the Wind Energy Area near Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and compare Protected Species Observer data to aerial survey data.

Sam Adams
Primary

Sam Adams is the Emergency Management Director and Assistant Director of Public Safety at the University of Rhode Island. He is also a PhD Candidate in the university’s Marine Affairs Coastal Resilience Lab where he is studying the use of storm simulations to predict consequences of major ocean storms for coastal communities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation from the Roger Williams University School of Architecture and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from American Public University.

Sam first certified as an open water diver since 2008 and has been actively involved in the University of Rhode Island’s research diving program since 2019. He an AAUS qualified scientific diver through URI and is currently completing his divemaster certification. He dives regularly in the Northeast and off the New Jersey coast. His interests include wreck diving, underwater film and photography, and teaching/instruction. With his background in historic preservation, Sam is passionate about protecting and interpreting underwater cultural heritage and finding creative ways to share his underwater experiences with non-divers.

Alison Gregoire
Alternate

Ali is a GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) technical diver, and recently finished serving as the Vice President for Southeast Connecticut Skin Divers club (SECONN). She is currently in the process of obtaining her divemaster certification and Captain's license in order to mentor and provide future generations of divers and sea goers alike with opportunities to enjoy the treasures that New England's coastal waters have to offer. Ali splits her professional and personal time between Dudley, MA and Gloucester, MA where she works on the Yankee Pearl dive boat and Yankee Clipper head boat, spending many days a week out on the sanctuary.

Her current goals include diving the Andrea Dori wreck and establishing relationships with research, private, and nonprofit groups to clean up ghost and abandoned fishing gear lost at sea. Ali is a 12-year veteran of our armed services and recently completed her master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence and Analysis from Northeastern University in Boston.

When you see Ali, ask her about her favorite dive sites, fishing rod/reel recommendations, and bring up anything about Stellwagen Bank.

Mary Jo Larson, PhD
Primary

Mary Jo Larson is an educator, conflict transformation scholar, and experiential learning practitioner. Her career path has been shaped by Peace Corps service, particularly environmental education programming in lowland coastal and small island nations. Previous positions have included Chief of Programming and Training for Peace Corps’ Asia and Pacific Region, Director of a global Women’s Leadership Program funded by Gates Foundation, and Lecturer on environmental conflict negotiation at Columbia University. At George Mason University, where she earned a Ph.D. for analysis of conflict resolution in multilateral climate negotiations, Dr. Larson has served as adjunct faculty and Chair of the Carter School’s Advisory Board. Currently, as an independent consultant, she is working with IFC/World Bank and multilateral partners to build capacities for environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting on climate and sustainability initiatives. In the Town of Cohasset, community education activities include serving as Chair of the Alternative Energy Committee, contributing to governance projects for the Harbor Committee, and joining the Advisory Board for Cohasset Student Coastal Research (CSCR), a regional center for engaging youth in the civic & scientific studies of local watersheds and marine environments “to inspire stewardship in our planet’s ecosystem.”

Alternate - Vacant

Laura Lilly (Vice Chair)
Primary

Laura Lilly is a lifelong advocate for animal welfare and healthy ecosystems with a belief that education is fundamental in promoting conservation. While on summer break from teaching kindergarten, she embarked on a whale watch trip out of Gloucester, MA, and the experience reignited a lifelong desire to work on the ocean. She began as a Research and Education Intern a few short weeks later, working her way to become a Naturalist, leading over 1,000 trips to date. The seasonal nature of the work allowed her to continue teaching in elementary schools, leading to her current position as a second grade teacher in Hingham, MA. She has taught professional development workshops encouraging educators to incorporate marine life into their classrooms and has facilitated school group whale watches and whale themed presentations, hoping to inspire the next generation of ocean advocates.

Barbara Berlucchi
Alternate

Barbara Berlucchi was a high school science teacher for 33 years in Hingham MA (retired in 2014) and presently lives in Quincy MA. She received her BS in Biology, Health and Physical Education with a minor in Education. She received a National Science Foundation scholarship for a Masters Degree in teaching physical science, and completed numerous continuing education courses throughout her career. She began her career teaching middle school in Hingham for several years while the rest of her tenure was at the High School level. She volunteered with the New England Aquarium as a tide pool/hall docent, at the Museum of Science as a docent, and with The Emerald Necklace Conservancy in Boston as a volunteer recruiter, and with numerous other organizations. She was on the Board at the historic Quincy Tennis Club as Vice President and is an avid tennis player. She traveled with her family across this country for several months during her summer break in the late 1970s in their Ford Bronco while pulling a small trailer, visiting many National Parks, and has traveled quite a bit in Europe, always looking for connections to her classroom and students. Her family bought their first sailboat in the 80s and began cruising from Long Island NY throughout the Maine Coast and many islands in between learning about marine life and its many interactions. She lived aboard her boat during her summer breaks while taking courses in marine ecology and geology on Martha’s Vineyard and in Bar Harbor, ME along the way. During her sabbatical in the fall of 96’ she sailed her boat from The Driftway in Scituate MA to Georgetown, Bahamas and on to the Turks & Caicos expanding her understanding in marine biology while helping to further her skills as a science teacher. She worked for several summers on whale watch boats out of Boston Harbor and now spends her summers four wheeling on the beaches on the outer Cape. She is an avid organic gardener and a member of the Holly Hill Organic Farm in Cohasset MA with a passion for cooking. She enjoys photography inspired from taking classes at the University of Rhode Island and is a member of the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro MA.

Eric Meschino
Primary

Eric is a Plymouth MA lobsterman who grew up on his father's boat. He worked deep sea boats and has been running his own for 11 years. Previously, he worked 5 years in Manhattan in financial services. Eric is a graduate of UMass Boston and Boston College high school.

Alternate - Vacant

Carol Voigt
Primary

For the last 25 years at CITGO Petroleum, Carol has been a Port Captain, Crisis Resource Manager, and Assistant Terminal Manager at the CITGO Braintree, MA Terminal. Born in San Diego to a California Maritime Academy 3rd Assist Engineer father, Carol grew up surrounded by the wonder and power of the ocean and worshipped Jacques Cousteau. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Marine Science and a 3rd Mates Unlimited License. Carol also holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sailing as a deck officer for ARCO on all of classes of vessels in their fleet, from 1000’ 265,000 DWT tankers to their Seismic Vessel, she traveled waterways and conducted cargo operations in ports from Valdez Alaska, along the US West, Gulf, and the East Coast. While sailing, she taught at Maine Maritime Academy, received a Master’s in Maritime Management, and obtained an Unlimited US Master’s License.

As a Lecturer at Texas A&M University at Galveston, TX Maritime Academy, Carol had the opportunity to prepare cadets for a career at sea, teaching courses ranging from ship handling and voyage planning to nautical rules of road with an emphasis on court interpretation. In addition, while teaching at the University’s Center for Marine Training and Safety (CMTS), Carol was co-developer of barge spill contingency plans; trained EXXON employees in advanced tanker operations; trained barge operators in basic and advanced tanker safety and operations.

Carol believes Advisory Council participation is a privilege and a responsibility in continuance of a lifetime mission to protect the waterways and oceans, and specifically the significant resources of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Alternate - Vacant

Calvin Mires, PhD
Primary

Dr. Calvin Mires has over 20 years of experience in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage, working on projects around the world including, including Greek and Roman shipwrecks, Sweden’s iconic warship, Vasa, Confederate Blockade Runners in North and South Carolina, and various sites in the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and the Great Lakes. He currently is a Research Associate III at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and from 2019-2020, he was the Chief Archaeologist for the deep-sea documentation of shipwrecks in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Since 2022, he has worked with the Department POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to search, locate, and identify WWII plane wrecks to account for and ultimately recover the remains of missing service personnel for their families and loved ones. Through DPAA and WHOI, he was involved with a feasibility study that tested the viability of submerged human eDNA recognition. In addition to his research, Dr. Mires runs several field schools and public outreach programs in Massachusetts through various partnerships and public programs. He has received grants from NOAA, Bureau of Energy and Ocean Management, National Park Service, and Massachusetts State Historic Record Advisory Board, and has been in published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, Historical Archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and Marine Ecology Progress Series.

Louisa Kasdon
Alternate

Louisa Kasdon, the founder of Let’s Talk About Food and The Food Voice, is a Boston based-journalist with over 600 published articles and several books on food, business and health for major national, regional, and international publications.

She hosts a popular podcast, Let’s Talk About Food, co-produced with Heritage Radio Network, that presents one-on-one conversations with people engaged in all aspects of food. In 2022, she organized national-level webinars focusing on next steps following the White House Conference on Hunger & Nutrition.

Kasdon has been active in organizing the food community response to the political environment for several decades, including leading a conference at Harvard University called Healthy Food Fuels Hungry Minds to formulate policy paths to improving school food.

Partnering with the Museum of Science in Boston, she founded Let’s Talk About Food, a broad-based public conversation about all aspects of our food system, which produced 30 food-topic events that connect the community. Kasdon created major public education events focused on examining the complex issues surrounding the future and health of our oceans, our fish, our fishermen, the seafood industry, and balancing the public’s recreational enjoyment of the seacoast which were presented at Harvard, at MOS, and at MIT.

She is a graduate of Wellesley College, with an MS from M.I.T., and an MBA from the Wharton School. Kasdon is the winner of the M.F.K. Fisher Prize for Excellence in Culinary Writing. She lives in Cohasset, Massachusetts with a view that reminds her every day of the preciousness and fragility of our seashore.

Marc Gustafson
Primary

Marc Gustafson is a second generation fisherman and captain of the F/V Cheryl Ann. He grew up in Scituate fishing on his father’s boat the Saint Anna as a kid and later the Cheryl Ann. After high school he went to work full time on the Cheryl Ann eventually becoming captain. He has worked on many local boats and has also captained Gill net boats. He has been the captain of the F/V Cheryl Ann for the past eight years fishing in the Gulf of Maine and waters east of Cape Cod. Marc serves as a board member for Northeast Fisheries Sector Twelve.

Frank Mirarchi
Alternate

Frank Mirarchi found his love for the sea early in life fishing with his dad from the rocky shore of the Glades and, later, from his family's pleasure boat. After graduating from Boston College in 1965 he found work as a deck hand aboard the "Frances Elizabeth" a Scituate based dragger. Beginning in 1967, Frank owned and operated a succession of draggers,fishing primarily in the Gulf of Maine. In later years, he fished in partnership with his son, Andrew. As diminishing catches and increasingly restrictive regulation made exclusive dependence on fishing difficult during the late 1980's, Frank diversified into fisheries research both as in income supplement and as a means of resolving some of the problems afflicting the industry. Beginning as simple conservation engineering projects, this work evolved into more complex areas such as environmental monitoring, characterization of gear impacts on habitat and electronic monitoring of fishing operations. While no longer at sea, Frank remains active in fishery policy issues. He is a member of the Northeast Seafood Coalition, a director of the Northeast Sector Service Network and treasurer of Northeast Fishery Sector Twelve. He also serves on boards for organizations including the Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership, the South Shore Seafood Exchange and the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute. More recently, Frank was appointed to serve on the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel and the Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Commission.

Kevin Blinkoff
Primary

Kevin Blinkoff is an avid angler and the Executive Editor at On The Water, the Northeast's largest recreational fishing media group. On The Water produces a monthly print magazine, a television show on Comcast SportsNet, and a highly trafficked website and social media presence. Kevin writes a weekly fishing column for the Boston Herald and contributes a weekly segment to the Cape and Islands NPR station. He has a graduate degree in Marine Biology from the Boston University Marine Program, where he worked in Dr. Les Kaufman's lab to complete a master's thesis on fish sampling inside and outside of the Western Gulf of Maine closed area on Stellwagen Bank. He received a B.S. in Natural Resource Management at Cornell University and has worked for the Conservation Law Foundation, the New England Aquarium, and the Fisheries Observer Program.

Tim Brady
Alternate

Captain Tim Brady, Jr., holds the world's largest tonnage Captain's license from the International Maritime Organization as well as the U.S. Coast Guard's highest tonnage license. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Mass. Maritime Academy (MMA) and a Master's Degree from Cambridge College. Captain Brady is a professor at MMA and teaches all of the tanker operations courses. He has been working on party boats out of Plymouth MA since the age of 10. Earning his initial captain's license at age 19, he has sailed throughout the world in the merchant marine and is a merchant marine veteran of the Persian Gulf War. Captain Brady owns and operates Capt. Tim Brady and Sons Deep Sea Fishing out of Plymouth and has been fishing and whale watching on Stellwagen Bank since 1973.

Sarah Oktay, PhD
Primary

Sarah recently served as the Executive Director for the Center for Coastal Studies located in Provincetown Massachusetts. From 2018-2021 she was the Director of Strategic Engagement and Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve Manager for the Natural Reserves System at the University of California Davis. Sarah has spent the past 30 years conducting climate change related research intertwined with teaching and public outreach. She received her B.S. in Marine Science and a Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography from Texas A&M University–Galveston. From 2003-2016 she was the Executive Director of the University of Massachusetts-Boston Nantucket Field Station. She is an invited member, national board member, and 2020 President of the Society of Women Geographers, and she has been on the boards of many civic and nonprofit groups. She served as president of the Organization of Biological Field Stations, a professional organization representing several hundred field stations across the globe, from 2014-2016 and has been on their board for 13 years. Her nine years of service on the Nantucket Conservation Commission has been featured in Vanity Fair, Yankee Magazine, Cape Cod Times, ABC.com, CNN, and the movie “Rising Tides.” She believes strongly in bridging the gap between scientists, policy makers, and the public to aid communities and effect change.

 

Les Kaufman, PhD
Alternate

Les Kaufman is marine ecologist with a broad range of interests related to the evolution, ecology, and conservation of aquatic species. He is a Professor in the Boston University Marine Program, and has been conducting research and teaching about marine ecological and fishery-related issues in Massachusetts since 1980. He also holds posts as Marine Conservation Fellow with Conservation International, Research Scholar with The New England Aquarium, and Associate in Ichthyology at Harvard University. Les studies all manner of things that influence the diversity of aquatic life (fishes are his favorites), and the relationships between aquatic ecosystems and human well-being. He has conducted field, laboratory, and modeling studies for decades on Stellwagen Bank and the watersheds of Massachusetts Bay. Away from home, Les specializes on coral reefs and tropical great lakes, particularly coral reefs of the northern and southern west Atlantic, Lake Victoria in East Africa, and the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and lower Mekong of Cambodia. The research in his lab centers on the dynamics of human-natural coupled systems- that is, how people live with, depend upon, and steward nature. His larger goal is to do science that helps us to sustain natural resources such as healthy ocean ecosystems and fisheries, and enables us adapt to climate change. His current projects are addressing human impacts on forage fishes and their predators in Massachusetts, coral reef recovery, and sustainability of food, energy, and water production systems. In addition to his responsibilities for BUMP, Les leads the program on Coupled Human and Natural Systems at the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future (a BU interdisciplinary thinktank), and teaches interdisciplinary courses on science, ethics and decision-making in the Kilachand Honors College. He also heads the MIMES/MIDAS research team on coastal ecological economics, with study areas in the US, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. He has long served on New England Fishery Management Council committees, works with NOAA colleagues and fishermen to modernize federal ocean science and fisheries management, and is on the leadership team for the Coral Restoration Consortium. Les writes popular books, magazine articles and for television, including multiple stints as either author or subject with NOVA and National Geographic. He is an avid sportfisherman, diver, naturalist, aquarist, and outdoorsman and is particularly concerned with the challenges of balancing the present and future needs of our ocean wildlife, fisheries, and fishery-dependent families.