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Interview with Dr. Andrew J. Kemmerer
 

On May 28, Dr. Andrew J. Kemmerer moved from his long-held position as Southeast Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to lead the Office of Habitat Conservation at NOAA Fisheries headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. As Southeast Regional Administrator, Kemmerer was responsible for all NMFS operations in the Southeast Region, including the Gulf of Mexico. We caught up with Dr. Kemmerer before his move to Silver Spring.
 

Water Log: What is the greatest challenge facing fisheries managers today?

Kemmerer: Unquestionably, the greatest challenge comes when trying to rebuild overfished stocks which requires reducing fishing mortality. This affects the users directly and, unfortunately, the initial reaction often is an attack of the science which can discredit a subsequent management program. Recovering stocks also create challenges as the fishers catch more fish, find fish reinhabiting some areas, and more fishers target the fish because of greater availability. It is tough to explain to a fisher why he individually is not allowed to catch more fish when the abundance of the stock exceeds that in the past 10 or 20 years. But, with a recovering stock, more people are catching more fish faster which can add up to a larger harvest than the stock can stand.
 

Water Log: What is the role of the Southeast Regional Administrator as NMFS representative on the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council and how do you contribute to the Council's decision-making process?

Kemmerer: There are really two roles. The first is as a voting Council member in the same sense as all other voting members. The only difference is that the Administrator represents the agency and the other Council members look to that position to respond to questions and requests. The second role is representing NMFS in reviewing and accepting or rejecting management measures proposed by the Council. In this capacity, the Administrator often serves as an advocate for measures proposed by the Council and in doing so often has to defend the proposals up through the chain-of-command, while ensuring that the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act are met.
 

Water Log: Since the passage of the Sustainable Fisheries Act, the future of fisheries management seems to be focused on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). How do you see the EFH regulations being implemented and will they be successful in changing the focus of management to protection of habitat?

Kemmerer: I don't believe anyone knows fully what the impact will be from the EFH designations. Unquestionably, they will lead to greater involvement of the Councils in habitat issues. The management authority of the Councils, however, will be primarily limited to effects of fishing and fishing gear on habitats as this is the only area where we have direct regulatory authority. The positions and decisions of the Councils on habitat matters will still have significant impact as the other agencies with regulatory authority will be looking at the Councils and NMFS for comments and recommendations on proposed habitat alterations. Overall, we look at this as a very positive step which will lead to healthier fisheries.
 

Water Log: Congress also mandated that the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Councils take actions to rebuild fisheries while considering impacts that such actions will have on fishing communities. What are some of the challenges involved with this kind of balancing?

Kemmerer: Our first obligation is to ensure that management measures are in place to recover overfished stocks and prevent overfishing. Because this usually involves reducing fishing mortalities, there will be impacts on fishing communities, but hopefully short-term. Ultimately, these communities will benefit from rebuilding programs. Minimizing the impacts requires public involvement in the management process, but will also necessitate more funding and effort being devoted to understanding the social and economic structure of the fisheries.
 

Water Log: There seems to be a struggle between fishers and the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding what is reliable science and how stock assessments should be completed. Do you see this struggle being resolved in the near future and how?

Kemmerer: I have confidence in the science being used by the Council in managing fisheries. Maybe this is because of my background in science and my knowledge of the dedication and talent of the fishery science community in general. This community includes scientists in state fishery agencies, universities, and in private institutions. Unfortunately, all too often the struggles you mention involve relatively unimportant details of a database or a scientific method, and not in how adequate the science is for sound management decisions. I also have confidence in the science because of our insistence, and the insistence of the Council, on ensuring that the science is adequately peer reviewed. We welcome any and all opportunities for good peer reviews. In 1997, the science being used by the Gulf Council for red snapper management went through several peer reviews which concluded that the science was adequate for sound management decisions. There will continue to be differences in how science is done and interpreted, which is healthy. However, the public is wise to place confidence on the peer-reviewed science rather than unsubstantiated claims.
 

Water Log: You have been promoted to lead the Office of Habitat Conservation at NOAA Fisheries headquarters. How has serving as Southeast Regional Administrator prepared you for this new challenge and do you have any parting words?

Kemmerer: This is going to be tough as I have spent most of my professional career in the southeast. I have been a part of some very significant conservation and management success stories, and the people I have dealt with over the years from the deck hand on the shrimp trawler to the captain of a chartered fishing boat have been some of the best I have known. We need these people because of their basic values and knowledge, and because of what they add to our society culturally, economically, and socially.

Habitat is extremely important for fisheries in the southeast region, which may be one of the reasons I was selected for the position in Silver Spring. We tend to be unique here because so many of our most important fishery resources depend on estuarine to oceanic habitats within their life cycles. It will be a challenge, but one I think I will enjoy as long as I get a chance once in a while to return to the southeast which I consider home.
 
 

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