Two new members and one returning member have been appointed to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
Council membership represents a diverse spectrum of interests and expertise, from commercial and recreational fishing industries to environmental interests.
Dr Pam Dana of Florida has completed her first term on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. She is a recreational angler and owner and captain of Sure Lure Charter Company (four and six passenger boats) fishing for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia, speckled trout and redfish. She currently serves as a member of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission, the Destin Charter Boat Association, Conservation Cooperative of Gulf Fishermen, National Association of Charter Boat Operators, Destin Fishing Fleet, Inc., and the American Professional Captains Consortium.
Captain David Walker of Alabama has more than 30 years of commercial fishing experience in the reef fish fishery. He serves as the president of Walker Fishing Fleet, Inc., and captain of the commercial F/V June Sue. Capt. Walker also has 38 years of experience as a recreational fisherman and currently serves on the Council's Red Snapper Advisory Panel, Reef Fish Advisory Panel, Ad Hoc 5-year Red Snapper Review Advisory Panel, and Ad Hoc Commercial Reef Fish Advisory Panel.
Dr Gregory Stunz of Texas is a professor of marine biology at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and an endowed Chair at the Fisheries and Ocean Health, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University. He is also the Executive Director of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. Dr Stunz is a member of the GMFMC's SSC, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Coastal Resources Advisory Committee, Gulf Estuarine Research Society, and CCA/TX.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight US regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to manage fishery resources from where state waters end, out to the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico (EEZ).
