February 2023 - The Director's Corner

Last month I attended the management portion of the Marine Resource and Education Program (MREP) workshop in Vancouver, WA along with one of our dedicated Board Members, Bob Dooley. I learned more about fisheries history, policy, and process in one day than I had in my 10+ years working in the trenches as a fisheries conservation practitioner! The lineup of presenters included leadership and staff of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), key leaders of NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, and even the former attorney who authored the landmark Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) reauthorization in 2006! These highly experienced and gracious speakers are one of the most impressive and valuable aspects of the MREP experience. Their genuine interest and participation tells me they firmly believe that a future with healthy oceans and communities means investing in the next generation of fishermen and women as co-managers.

Another unique MREP experience is participating in a mock council meeting. We were all assigned roles (mostly the opposite of the ones we play in real life), and we had to learn about that person’s background, issues of concern, and perspective. Some participants had never been to a PFMC meeting; others of us have spent year after year attending meetings. I myself spent nearly 10 years attending 3-5 meetings annually. I thought I knew the process well, but in just two days at MREP, I learned so much more!  And most importantly, I got to connect on a personal level with fishery leaders and community members alike. I heard some great fishing stories and listened to a song shared by members of the WA Makah tribe. 

If you are reading this and you are involved in local fisheries in some way, please reach out to us to inquire about our scholarship opportunities for attending MREP! Since 2016, we’ve been supporting local fishery participants to attend the annual west coast workshop. Stay tuned for an upcoming article with interviews and insights from local fishermen about their experiences and how they are using what they learned to improve their fishing operations and even engage in the council process. 

One last piece of news, we will soon be hiring! We are looking for an experienced Operations and finance manager for a full-time remote position with the Trust. Look for an announcement in the coming weeks!