NEWS & INSIGHTS March 13, 2023 Offshore wind lease heightens the need to learn more about Atlantic bluefin tuna. BOEM Announces Determination of No Competitive Interest for Gulf of Maine Research Lease Application. VIEW ARTICLE → Recently, BOEM announced that another hurdle had been overcome in the march towards offshore wind in the Gulf…
Steve Weiner
President
Steve has been pursuing bluefin tuna commercially out of Perkins Cove, ME, for over fifty years. He currently owns and operates the Elizabeth Ames, a Harpoon Category vessel, and fishes from The Canadian border off Down East Maine down to northern Cape Cod. In the past, Steve helped form and operate both the East Coast Tuna Association, the American Bluefin Tuna Association, and a large and diverse industry coalition focused on Atlantic herring management. He has been heavily engaged on all levels of management from ICCAT to the ASMFC—dedicating much of his life to this passion. As one of the founders of The Bluefin Collaborative, Steve is intensely driven to improve how we assess and manage Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Chris Comb
Vice President
Since catching his first fish as a young child, Chris has been captivated with fishing of all kinds. He spent years learning from some of the top tuna fishermen in Massachusetts and has since become an accomplished tuna fisherman in his own right. He owns and operates both the Tunassity and Reel Deel out of Manchester, MA, which are vessels in the General Category and Angling Category, respectively. Chris and his family have a long history in the realm of research and science, and this background allows Chris to bring a unique perspective to the Board. Chris has been involved with The Bluefin Collaborative since it was just a (seemingly) far-fetched idea and has been instrumental in getting it off the ground.
Michael Blanchard
Treasurer
Mike has fished commercially for bluefin since the early nineties with both rod & reel and harpoon. Mike owns and operates the Jeanne Maria, a Harpoon Category vessel out of Gloucester, MA. A previous member of numerous fishery associations and government fishery advisory panels, Mike has been heavily engaged on science and management for bluefin for decades. When not working, Mike is an avid recreational fisherman for a wide range of species.
Nathaniel Moody
Assistant Vice President
Captain Nat has been chartering out of the North Shore of Massachusetts since 1995, with a focus on bluefin and striped bass. He currently owns and runs the Night Heron, a Charter/Headboat category vessel out of Gloucester, MA. For 19 years he also owned and operated First Light Anglers, a popular retail tackle shop. Nat has been involved in many aspects of bluefin science from tagging juveniles with the Tag A Tiny project, to collecting biological samples for research on dietary habits, age and growth, and sexual maturity.
Tyler Macallister
Secretary
Captain Tyler of Mattapoisett, MA, has been a commercial and charter fisherman out of Cape Cod for 36 years. He owns and operates the Cynthia C2 and Bottom Line, vessels in the General Category and Charter/Headboat category, respectively. Since studying marine biology in college, Tyler has always shown a keen interest in science and research regarding Atlantic bluefin tuna. He also has extensive experience regarding management matters and is currently on several NOAA committees pertaining to both commercial and recreational fishing.
Richard Burgess
Richard has owned and operated more boats than he can count and taken part in almost as many different fisheries throughout his long career on the water. His focus, though, has been on groundfish, bluefin, and lobster. He currently owns and operates the Ryan Zachary out of Gloucester, MA, on which he fishes year-round for lobster and seasonally for bluefin as part of the General Category. Richard’s family has deep roots in the fishing community on Campobello Island, and he has spent most of his life involved in the science and management of New England’s fisheries.
George French
George owns and runs the Dark Horse, a Charter/Headboat Category vessel out of Newburyport, MA, alongside his brother, Will. While George focuses on commercial rod and reel fishing for bluefin, he spends a great deal of time chartering for haddock, striped bass, and other species. George has fished the waters in and around Ipswich Bay since he could walk and is passionate about doing anything he can to help improve the management of Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Eric Hesse
Eric is a harpoon fisherman from Barnstable, MA. He owns and runs two boats, the Tenacious II and Mattanza, both of which are vessels in the Harpoon Category. Eric fishes for haddock during the winter months and conducts collaborative research with NOAA's Northeast Fishery Science Center. Eric has participated in the management arena for bluefin and other species throughout his fishing career. He also has many years of experience in the non-profit world through his time spent working with the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance.
Eric Jacquard
Eric is a 5th generation fisherman out Wedgeport, Nova Scotia, and has spent much of his life on the water. In addition to owning and running a lobster business, Eric also fishes commercially for bluefin with both harpoon and rod and reel with his sons, Joel and Camille, on their vessels, the Atlantic Angler and Pelagic Predator. Both vessels also take part in the catch and release fishery. Eric has long been a leader in his region and is currently the President of the South West Nova Tuna Association. The Jacquards have been heavily involved in research on Atlantic bluefin tuna for years, and Eric strongly believes in the need to continue to help improve data gathering and general research on this species.
Putnam Maclean
“Put” has fished for bluefin with rod and reel, harpoon, and pelagic longline (PLL) gear for over 60 years. He currently owns the Shadowline, a General Category vessel out of Green Harbor, MA, and the Eagle Eye and Eagle Eye II, both of which are PLL vessels based in Fairhaven, MA. Put has been deeply engaged in the science and management of bluefin and other species since the eighties. He has sat on the Boards of numerous fishery-related associations in the past, and he is currently on the Board of the Bluewater Fishermen’s Association. As an initial Board member, Put hopes to help drive the science on bluefin forward in the coming years.
Anthony Mendillo, Jr
After spending multiple decades working on some of the top producing bluefin rod and reel boats off the Eastern US, Anthony eventually settled full time on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. There he owns and runs Keen M International, which is made up of four vessels: the Keen M, Keen M II, Lilly M, and Andrea M. Well known as one of the top producing sailfish captains in the world, Anthony’s boats also target numerous other species with rod & reel and take part in the eco-tourism industry. Despite his success in Mexico, fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna will always remain close to Anthony’s heart. He still spends time off both Cape Cod and Nova Scotia fishing on commercial and charter vessels during tuna season and is actively engaged in conducting and promoting Atlantic bluefin tuna science.
Norman St. Pierre
At 82 years-young, Norman has built an extensive resume in the fishery world since starting as crew on a school bluefin charter boat, the Nancy Ann, out of Wychmere Harbor on Cape Cod when he was fifteen years old. He spent the next two decades working on and owning commercial fishing and charter boats from New England to Florida. In the early eighties he traded in his harpoon and hooks for a pilot’s license, and he has been a fish spotter ever since. While he ended up as far away as California flying for anchovy seiners decades ago, he has spent the bulk of his time as a pilot spotting for harpooners on Cape Cod. Norman still goes as hard as ever, and he is currently splitting his flying time between spotting Atlantic bluefin tuna for harpoon vessels, locating Great White sharks for eco-tourism operations and scientists, setting menhaden purse seine vessels, and helping find both ocean sunfish and sea turtles for researchers. With far too much on-the-water and in-the-air experience to list here, nobody brings a more holistic perspective to the table than Norman.
Bob DeCosta
Albacore Charters, owned and operated by Captain Bob, is Nantucket’s oldest charter business. The Albacore is well known around New England as a top charter and commercial fishing boat, and Bob is one of the region’s most respected captains. Alongside his son, Ray, Bob is often out on the water targeting tuna and other top species. When he is not fishing, Bob can often be found in a meeting room or otherwise engaged in helping promote the science and management of the species he loves so much, or the island he calls home.
Camille Jacquard
A Wedgeport, Nova Scotia is well known as a historical center of fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Who better to represent this port—and Southwest Nova Scotia—than Camille Jacquard? True to his Acadian roots, Camille is relentless in his pursuit of lobsters, tuna, and the science needed to protect his community’s heritage. After starting out running the Rolling Thunder in 2009, Camille has gone on to run the Fin Seeker and now the Pelagic Predator. Camille is a strong advocate for the extensive bluefin industry in the Maritimes and a key member of TBC.
Bryan Sears
Captain Bryan Sears is a second-generation charter fisherman based out of Scituate, Massachusetts. He and his family have grown a strong reputation throughout the fishing community through building their successful fishing business, Mass Bay Guides, over the past 26 years. Bryan and his brother, Taylor, also own and operate Seabros. Fishing, which, among other things, hosts an influential podcast. The Sears brothers have an expansive following and can spread the word about science, proper fish handling, and many other topics given their large media footprint. Bryan is tireless in his pursuit of success, and we are lucky to have him on our Board.