US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has appointed Chris Oliver to the position of assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. He will oversee the federal agency responsible for commercial and recreational fisheries that contribute more than $200 billion to the nation’s economy and support nearly two million jobs.
In addition to managing productive and sustainable domestic fisheries, including some aspects of marine aquaculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration arm works to recover and conserve protected resources such as whales, sea turtles, and corals. NOAA Fisheries has offices in 15 states and US territories, including five regional offices, six science centers, and 24 labs and fish stations.
For the past 27 years, Oliver worked at the Alaska-based North Pacific Fishery Management Council – first as a fisheries biologist, later as deputy director, and finally as executive director for 16 years. Through his long-time participation in the Council Coordination Committee and various international fishery management organizations, he has gained extensive knowledge of national and international fisheries issues. The Texas native also worked on Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery management issues prior to moving to Alaska in 1990.
In welcoming the appointment, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) underscored the importance to have someone with a strong fisheries background and a genuine understanding of how the industry works at the helm. In addition to nearly three decades of experience with NOAA, Oliver holds a degree in business management and an advanced degree in fisheries sciences.
The McLean, Virginia-headquartered trade association issued the following statement on June 20: “NFI looks forward to working with the new assistant administrator to ensure NOAA continues to base its decision making on sound science and works to more compellingly communicate its sustainability successes. NOAA’s oversight is in and of itself a success story and no one knows that better than Chris Oliver. Americans are ready to hear more about the ongoing success of domestic fisheries.”
