Two new staff members have joined the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to work on policy issues at the state, interstate and federal level. Nick Popoff joined the DMR in July 2018 and has been working on policy issues for seaweed, American eel, river herring, striped bass, bluefish, northern shrimp, and sea urchins. His work includes staffing the department’s sea urchin and seaweed advisory councils and leading the evaluation of electronic monitoring technology that will support the 100% harvester reporting requirement implemented by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
A major focus of his work in recent months has been to investigate the importation of Asian carp from the Mississippi and Illinois rivers for use as lobster bait. Popoff is working with the other states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a protocol for testing, handling and transportation that will ensure biosecurity and support an exemption for lobstermen to use the currently prohibited species. Prior to working for DMR, Nick served as a fisheries biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as the tribal liaison, policy manager, and invasive species program manager for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Megan Ware joined the Department in March as the External Affairs Director. In her role, Megan will serve as the Commissioner’s designee to the New England Fisheries Management Council and as a proxy on the ASMFC, representing Maine interests in those management bodies. Ware previously served as a fishery management plan coordinator for ASMFC, developing and coordinating management plans for lobster, herring, and menhaden. Her responsibilities included fostering communication and consensus between state agencies, federal partners, industry members and science staff. Prior to joining ASMFC, Megan worked as a Marine Policy Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, a fish advisory analyst for the Southern Environmental Law Center, and an environmental science and policy consultant for Duke Legal Clinics.