ABOUT US
DRIVING BLUEFIN TUNA SCIENCE FORWARD WITH REAL DATA.
The Bluefin Collaborative is a collective of US and Canadian fishermen that came together formally in 2022 to improve the management and sustainability of Atlantic bluefin tuna by sourcing data and promoting objective research. The official scientific narrative has changed little over numerous decades despite the hard work by under-funded, independent researchers throughout the Atlantic in their effort to answer unresolved questions needed for accurate assessments. We are here to change that by bringing the expertise, dedication, grit, and energy of those on the water, in the air, and on the waterfront into the process.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Bluefin Collaborative is run on a day-to-day basis by its Board of Directors and Executive Director. Currently the board of directors is made up entirely of fishery stakeholders. This was a conscious choice. Those working on the water are best suited to gather the biological data needed to improve policy. There is simply no replacement for the ability of fishery stakeholders to find, catch, and sample Atlantic bluefin tuna at scale. That said, as we grow and evolve, so will our Board. We welcome the participation of anyone with relevant expertise that wants to objectively and actively support our group and its mission.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Bluefin Collaborative is run on a day-to-day basis by its Board of Directors and Executive Director. Currently the board of directors is made up entirely of fishery stakeholders. This was a conscious choice. Those working on the water are best suited to gather the biological data needed to improve policy. There is simply no replacement for the ability of fishery stakeholders to find, catch, and sample Atlantic bluefin tuna at scale. That said, as we grow and evolve, so will our Board. We welcome the participation of anyone with relevant expertise that wants to objectively and actively support our group and its mission.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Weiner
President
Chris Comb
Vice President
Michael Blanchard
Treasurer
Tyler Macallister
Secretary
Nathaniel Moody
Assistant Vice President
Richard Burgess
George French
Eric Hesse
Bob DeCosta
Putnam Maclean
Anthony Mendillo, Jr
Norman St. Pierre
Camille Jacquard
Bryan Sears
CHRIS WEINER
Executive Director
Chris Weiner is a 3rd generation bluefin harpooner out of Perkins Cove, ME. He helps operate the family harpoon vessel, the Elizabeth Ames, during the summer/fall Harpoon Category season. Chris has a B.A. in Government and Legal Studies from Bowdoin College and a Master’s in Policy, Planning, and Management from the Muskie School of Public Service.
Chris has spent many years involved in both the science and management pertaining to numerous Gulf of Maine, East Coast, and Atlantic-wide fisheries. In recent years he has served lengthy terms on: the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the Maine Offshore Wind Fisheries Working Group, the Maine Offshore Wind Research Consortium, the Maine Department of Marine Resources Advisory Council, the NOAA Highly Migratory Species Advisory Council, and the New England Fishery Management Council’s Atlantic Herring Advisory Panel.
Prior to helping found The Bluefin Collaborative, Chris spent many years formally involved in the management of Atlantic herring and mackerel, which are key forage stocks for Atlantic bluefin tuna. This included helping found and run a diverse industry stakeholder coalition and the New England Purse Seine Alliance, a group of traditional purse herring seine vessels from Maine.
Despite this extensive time spent on forage stock management, Atlantic bluefin tuna management has been, and always will be, Chris’ obsession. Since 2020, he has become directly involved in the science arena and has been a part of numerous US delegations to meetings for both ICCAT and the SCRS.
SCIENTIFIC PARTNERS AND ADVISORS
The team of independent scientists helping guide our data collection and research planning is already extensive. We have experts with a wide range of expertise, including stock assessment and population dynamics, larval ecology and movements, genetics, life history, and field research. Equally important is the need to bring in new blood and fresh perspectives.
As we grow, we will continue to put great emphasis on engaging the best scientists in the fields relevant to Atlantic bluefin tuna. It should be noted that we are working closely with scientists from the U.S. government and other ICCAT nations that are focused on the progression of science.
SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL
The team of independent scientists helping guide our data collection and research planning is already extensive. We have experts with a wide range of expertise, including stock assessment and population dynamics, larval ecology and movements, genetics, life history, and field research. Equally important is the need to bring in new blood and fresh perspectives.
As we grow, we will continue to put great emphasis on engaging the best scientists in the fields relevant to Atlantic bluefin tuna. It should be noted that we are working closely with scientists from the U.S. government and other ICCAT nations that are focused on the progression of science.
The Bluefin Collaborative is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 87-3332779) under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable under law.
TBC Policy on Indirect Costs: It is the intent of The Bluefin Collaborative to fund only the direct costs of research projects performed by third parties. Therefore, as a policy, The Bluefin Collaborative does not fund indirect costs.