Director Paul Diodati enjoying a day of saltwater fishing

Today's demand on MarineFisheries to address fisheries policy, fisheries science, and environmental protection has never been greater than at any other time in the 70-year history of the agency. Management of Northeast groundfish stocks, a $100 million (ex-vessel) industry with half the landings occurring in Massachusetts, is in the world spotlight as it faces the country's most complex fisheries management test. New regionally-based regulations about to come online for our $70 million American lobster fishery include controversial changes that will reduce effort and limit fishermen's options as to what waters they could fish. Mandates to comply with dozens of other interstate fishery management plans, to provide habitat protection, to manage our shellfish industry in compliance with strict national and international public health guidelines, to restore our anadromous fishery resources and manage local fisheries, and to conduct numerous other agency tasks continue to grow and escalate in priority every day.

Increased workloads coupled with shrinking state and federal budgets create a high-level, fast paced work environment in MarineFisheries offices. This is a contemporary situation that I fear is replicated in every coastal fisheries agency along the Atlantic coast. MarineFisheries is fortunate to have exceptional staff members capable of successfully completing varied tasks diligently and professionally in a minimum amount of time. There is no question that the current challenges facing us will test the resolve of MarineFisheries during the next 12-18 months as we work to find solutions that will aid in successfully completing all our obligations and goals. I'm confident in the abilities of MarineFisheries' staff to do their jobs, to find innovative solutions to tough problems, and to implement constructive cooperative programs with other agencies and members of our fishing industry. At the end of this period it's doubtless that MarineFisheries will emerge with more focus, structure, and professionalism than ever before.