U.S. FISHERIES CHIEF, WILLIAM HOGARTH, ELECTED TO
CHAIR INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSION

Nov. 22, 2005 — Member nations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas elected William T. Hogarth, director of the NOAA Fisheries Service, to serve as Commission chairman. The election took place at the Commission's annual meeting in Spain. The United States last chaired the Commission from 1984 to 1987. (Click NOAA image for larger view of William T. Hogarth, director of the NOAA Fisheries Service. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

"Dr. Hogarth's election to chair this important commission is a significant milestone in the U.S. effort to bring about improved international cooperation on important fisheries issues," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. "The large, migratory fish managed by the Commission are important, not only in terms of economics, but also for the health of ocean ecosystems globally."

Hogarth has been the U.S. delegate to the Commission since 2002. The Commission chairmanship is a two-year term.

"The Commission manages some of the most economically valuable fish species and the organization is extremely important to U.S. commercial and recreational fishing industries," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "The United States will continue to advocate for improved science, stronger management, compliance with internationally agreed-upon regulations, and an end to practices such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that undermine our management efforts."

Hogarth expressed his commitment to ensuring that the Commission process is open, transparent, and inclusive to all countries.

"I am honored to be elected to lead such a distinguished Commission," Hogarth said. "We have many challenges ahead, but I am dedicated to continuing the process of improving the functioning of the Commission that was begun by Masanori Miyahara, the outgoing Chairman. I believe strongly in an open and transparent process where everyone can express their opinions, and I am looking forward to implementing this philosophy within the Commission over the next two years."

Established in 1969, the Commission is responsible for collecting scientific information, assessing stock status, and establishing management programs for 30 tuna and tuna-like species that are fished upon by many nations in the Atlantic Ocean. The Commission is made up of 41 members. The next meeting is a scientific workshop on the stock structure of Atlantic swordfish, scheduled for January 16-18, 2006, in Greece.

The NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. The NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Fisheries Service

NOAA Fisheries Page

Media Contact:
Susan Buchanan, NOAA Fisheries Service, (301) 713-2370