Get Connected
We appreciate your interest in helping shape the future of recreational fishing with NOAA.If you’re looking to get more involved, there are a number of ways to connect to the initiative including:
- NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC): Reach out to one of your peers on NOAA’s formal advisory panel. MAFAC is made up of representatives from commercial and recreational fishing, environmental, consumer, academic, tribal, governmental, and other national interest groups. To provide focus, MAFAC established a Recreational Fisheries Subcommittee to represent your interests. MAFAC created a Recreational Fisheries Working Group to provide advice on recreational issues. Nominations for the full MAFAC and recreational fishing working group are solicited on a regular basis.
- NOAA’s Regional Recreational Fishing Coordinators: Connect with a NOAA Fisheries representative in your region. Each region of the country has at least one staff member assigned to serve as recreational fishing liaison – connecting the community to NOAA Fisheries regional offices and science centers. These coordinators are responsible for much of the on-the-ground progress. They work closely with regional community leaders to develop and implement the Regional Action Agendas.
The information below will help you connect with NOAA's Recreational Fisheries Initiative.
National Team
Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor on Recreational Fisheries
Phone: 727-551-5740
Email: Russell.Dunn@noaa.gov
Danielle Rioux, Recreational Fisheries Policy Specialist
Phone: 301-427-8516
Email: Danielle.Rioux@noaa.gov
Regional Recreational Fisheries Information
Click on the map below to visit regional recreational fishing websites.
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Regional Recreational Fisheries Coordinators
Northeast (Maine-Virginia) | Southeast (North Carolina-Florida), Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean |
| Paul Perra Phone: 978-281-9153 Email: Paul.Perra@noaa.gov | Kim Amendola Phone: 727-551-5707 Email: Kim.Amendola@noaa.gov |
Southwest | Northwest |
| Charles Villafana Phone: 562-980-4033 Email: Charles.Villafana@noaa.gov | Steve Copps Phone: 206-526-6158 Email: Steve.Copps@noaa.gov |
Alaska | Pacific Islands |
| Chris Lunsford Phone: 907-789-6008 Email: Chris.Lunsford@noaa.gov | David Itano Phone: 808-944-2201 Email: piro.recfish@noaa.gov |
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species | |
| North | South |
| Brad McHale Phone: 978-281-9260 Email: Brad.Mchale@noaa.gov | Randy Blankinship Phone: 727-824-5399 Email: Randy.Blankinship@noaa.gov |
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC)
Recreational Fisheries Working Group
MAFAC was established in 1971 to advise the Secretary of Commerce on living marine resource matters. In 2010, MAFAC created a Recreational Fisheries Working Group (Working Group) advises MAFAC issues of importance to the recreational fisheries community. Members have been selected to represent the diversity of national, regional, and sector perspectives. A solicitation for appointees takes place fall/winter each year, so keep checking back to see when we are accepting applications!
Learn more about Working Group membership and activities.
