Speaker: Paul Anderson, Executive Director, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries
Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM) is not a new concept and has been studied and attempted in many places around the planet. In its simplest form, EBFM considers not just how to manage individual species, but rather the relationships between species. At a more a complex level, EBFM takes into account the relationship of those species to the ecosystem in which they live. An even more comprehensive view includes the socio-economic setting and how fisheries management effects or if affected by social systems. This talk will explore some of those themes and introduce a new 5-year initiative that the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF), the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the National Marine Fisheries Service is undertaking to create a research framework to inform an EBFM approach in eastern Maine. The talk will include and introduction to the programs of MCCF (based in Stonington, Maine) and discussion of how scientists and students can get involved.
Paul Anderson has 30 years of experience working with Maine’s marine resources, primarily in public service roles, at the intersection of science, policy, and community. Before joining Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, Anderson spent 16 years as the Director of the Maine Sea Grant College Program where he oversaw commercial fisheries, aquaculture, coastal community development, ecosystem health, and coastal resiliency. He also served as the Research Network Director of the Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (“SEANET”) and Director of the Aquaculture Research Network at the University of Maine. Anderson held multiple positions within the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). During his time with the state, he led efforts to open clam flats in Eastern Maine, oversaw the construction and management of the DMR laboratory in Lamoine State Park, and served as the Director of the Public Health Division. He’s served on the board of several nonprofits, including the Herring Gut Learning Center in Port Clyde and the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. Anderson possesses a strong ability to moderate, build, and manage highly effective teams and organizations. Anderson holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Microbiology from the University of Maine. He has worked across the state of Maine, as well as abroad, in Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, the Philippines, and China. Anderson currently resides in Winterport, Maine, where he enjoys family, gardening, and making music with his friends.
