Obituary: James Desloge O'Malley

He was 61 years old. At the time of his death, he served as a Port Captain of the Nantucket Lightship, berthed at Newport, on board which he died. He was the executive director of the East Coast Fisheries Federation, and a past member of the New England Fisheries Council. He served on various governmental and non-governmental boards, travelling internationally on behalf of fisheries interests. Before becoming a Council member, Jim was a fishing industry representative and advisory panel member, and the chair of the Council’s Scallop Committee.

Jim fished on large trawlers out of Boston, then on trawlers out of New Bedford, MA, Point Judith, RI, and Alaska, longlined swordfish off the Southeastern US, and trapped for lobsters on Jennie & Jackie out of Westport, MA. His studies at Boston College were interrupted by combat service in Vietnam in 1969 and l970, where he recently returned to with a humanitarian group.

Jim got his BA from Boston College and a Master of Marine Affairs degree from the University of Rhode Island, He lectured frequently there and at other academic institutions, and delivered papers at various international conferences and published articles related to fisheries, specialising in fisheries’ political and economic aspects.

As a New England Fishery Management Council member, Jim had spent a lot of time representing the groundfish industry. As chair of the scallop committee, with the northeast scallop fishery being one of the economically most valuable single species fisheries in the world, he was working out pragmatic solutions among competing interests and was considered an honest broker trusted by all. Whatever his position or assignment, his wisdom, experience and common sense approach to problem-solving was helpful in making decisions, however difficult.

Known for his generous heart and quick wit, he had a wide variety of interests and friends across the world. He will be missed by many people in many places.