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NOAA FISHERIES EMPLOYEE RECEIVES AWARD
FOR EXCEPTIONAL WORK
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employee has received the Administrator's Award for exceptional work contributing to NOAA's mission and its programs. Scott B. Gudes, Acting Under Secretary/Administrator of NOAA presented the award at a special ceremony in Silver Spring, Maryland, on May 10, 2001, to Dr. Gary Stauffer, Division Director for Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington.
"This recognition for Gary's work is well deserved," said Jim Balsiger, Alaska Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. "One of the pleasures of my job is working with the many dedicated and highly skilled people in this agency."
Stauffer contributed his expertise in the research field to resolving the confusion with scientific research cruises versus commercial or recreational fishing operations, and facilitate needed fishery science. Dating back to 1976 when the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act was passed, the law recognized and exempted bona fide scientific research activity from fishing regulations and established an approval process for foreign fishery research vessels operating in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. However, the process did not include research from U.S. fishery research vessels. This oversight generated difficulties for distinguishing valid research activities from prohibited fishing activities. Dr. Stauffer worked diligently with a small team of experts for two years to develop a conservation policy and effective set of procedures for recognizing and approving important fishery research on U.S. fishery resources that otherwise would be in violation of fishing regulations.
NOAA Fisheries conducts scientific research and provides services and products to support domestic and international fisheries management, fisheries development, trade and industry assistance, enforcement, and protected species and habitat conservation programs.
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