East Coast Coordination Group
The East Coast Coordination Group was formed in 2023 to oversee implementation of actions associated with the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative. The leadership-level group is responsible for tracking progress toward implementation of those potential actions, coordinating priorities, estimating needed resources, and supporting collaboration and coordination.
Objectives and Roles:
Ensure actions are prioritized, jointly and by individual management organizations
Assess and allocate resources available from participating groups to address issues (including monetary and staff resources)
Ensure joint/cooperative actions are executed in a coordinated manner, including identifying and tasking the appropriate group(s) to address each action
Review and consider information provided by the Core Team on trends in the fisheries and suggested actions
In cooperation with the Core Team, identify opportunities for external support and partnerships to address actions, as appropriate
Populate and provide guidance to the staff-level Core Team, including tasking and directing on information needs and projects as needed beyond routine tasks
Membership
The East Coast Coordination Group includes one leadership-level member from each participating organization. The chair and host of meetings will rotate among organizations on an annual basis.
Robert Beal (2025 Chair) – Executive Director, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Michael Pentony – Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Office
Cate O’Keefe, Ph.D. – Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council
Christopher Moore, Ph.D. – Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
John Carmichael – Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Clay Porch, Ph.D. – Science and Research Director, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Jon Hare, Ph.D. - Science and Research Director, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Andrew Strelcheck – Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Meetings
The East Coast Coordination Group meets at least twice per year, with one meeting occurring in the summer to inform each organization’s priority setting processes. Intersessional meetings are held as needed.
East Coast Core Team
The East Coast Core Team is a staff-level group that was formed to support the East Coast Coordination Group. Specific responsibilities include tracking important ecosystem and fishery changes, identifying potential associated management and governance challenges, and identifying possible actions for consideration by the Coordination Group.
Core Team Members
The Core Team consists of staff from each of the three East Coast Councils, the Commission, the Greater Atlantic and Southeast Regional Fisheries Offices, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and NMFS Headquarters. The chair will rotate annually, consistent with the rotating chair schedule of the East Coast Coordination Group.
Toni Kerns (2025 Chair), Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Travis Ford, NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
Michelle Bachman, New England Fishery Management Council
Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Lara Klibansky, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Joe Caracappa, NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Mandy Karnauskas, NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional Office
Wendy Morrison, NMFS HQ Office of Sustainable Fisheries
Contacts
For additional information about the East Coast Coordination Group or the East Coast Core Team, please contact Toni Kerns (tkerns@asmfc.org) or Kiley Dancy (kdancy@mafmc.org).