Ferdinand Named Deputy Director at AFSC
Jennifer Ferdinand has been appointed deputy director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, AFSC science and research director Robert Foy announced Aug. 6. Ferdinand, a former commercial fisheries observer, joined NOAA in 1998.
In his announcement, Foy praised Ferdinand’s leadership skills, saying she is highly regarded by colleagues, staff, constituents and partners for her ability to bring together disparate groups to build consensus.
Ferdinand spent a decade with AFSC’s Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Division as a debriefer, observer trainer and program manager. In 2008, she became the center planning officer, coordinating the development and implementation of the center’s strategic planning process.
In 2018, she became director of the organization’s Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Division, where she conceived and executed innovative approaches to keep observers safe while providing needed catch and bycatch data to fishermen and resource managers working through the pandemic.
This included modifying standard operating procedures to minimize in-person interactions and the use of remote tools for training and debriefing for observers returning from deployments on fishing vessels.
“For many, becoming a fisheries observer is their first introduction to the federal government,” Ferdinand said. “I think it is really important to provide coaching and mentoring to new and recently promoted staff.”
“While providing professional development opportunities to staff,” she continued, “I also was able to grow the division’s skill sets and increase the value and utility of our data to the agency. I look forward to implementing some of these practices more broadly as the center’s deputy director.”
Calif. Wildlife Officer Academy Graduates Largest Class in its History
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer Academy graduated and pinned badges on 54 new officers on Aug. 1. The group represents the largest academy graduating class in its history, the CDFW has said.
“One of the best days of the year for us is adding a graduating class of wildlife officers to CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division,” CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of Law Enforcement Nathaniel Arnold said. “It is a pleasure to see 54 eager new officers ready to support our mission to protect California’s natural resources and provide public safety through effective and responsive law enforcement.”
Next, the newly sworn peace officers take part in a field training program where they’ll apply their academy training under the immediate supervision of seasoned field training officers (FTO). Field training with experienced FTOs is also mandated to ensure new wildlife officers can apply the skills they learned during the academy to real life circumstances. FTO is the final stage of formal training.
Upon completion, the officers will begin patrolling California to protect the state’s natural resources, and will be deployed across the Law Enforcement Division’s programs: regular patrol, marine enforcement, and investigation of petroleum spills and response, to name a few.
More information about becoming a wildlife officer is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Enforcement.
Appointees to Regional Fisheries Councils Named by Commerce Dept.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has appointed new and returning members to the Pacific and North Pacific regional fishery management councils to three-year terms. The appointments were announced on July 31.
For the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the appointments include John Moller and Brian Ritchie both of Alaska, and the reappointment of Anne Vanderhoeven of Washington. The NPFMC next meets Sept. 30-Oct. 9 at the Egan Center in Anchorage.
For the Pacific Council, which includes members from California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, Raimondo reappointed Corey Ridings of California and Christa Svensson of Oregon to additional three-year terms, and David Sones to the council’s tribal seat.
The next PFMC meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18-24 in Spokane, Wash.
Those appointed are from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories and tribal governments.
Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations and academia, as well as state and federal agencies. They are considered vital to fulfilling requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.
Appointments of 22 members to the other six regional fishery management councils were announced earlier this summer.