GoFISHn interview with NOAA big fish, Eric Schwaab

NOAA’s Eric Schwaab

Ned Desmond from GoFISHn.com has posted his three part interview with Eric Schwaab, NOAA’s assistant administrator for fisheries. I wrote about Eric when he was appointed and as you will see in Desmond’s interview Schwaab is a not only a thoughtful leader but a vocal champion of recreational fishing.

Desmond and Schwaab discuss many the pressing issues of concern to saltwater recreational anglers. It is a comprehensive look at the work NOAA is doing and what it means for recreational fishing.

Here is a list of the topics they discuss:

• Fishery closures
• Stock assessment data and budgets
• Better management practices
• Re-authorization of Magnuson-Stevens Act
• Possible revisions to the act
• Economic impact of closures
• Why did NMFS fall behind in stock assessments?
• More on budgets for stock assessments
• Meeting with Senator Schumer and angler constituents in New York
• NOAA enforcement review and the Inspector General’s Reports
• Oceans Policy Taskforce
• NOAA’s legacy