THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110088
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 140 lines
The seven-month search for a new director for the state Division of Marine Fisheries ended Friday with the announcement that a research scientist from New Jersey would oversee the state's coastal fishing industry.
Bruce L. Freeman, 54, a research scientist with the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, will head the division.
Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. announced the appointment and said ``we're pleased to get someone of Bruce's caliber. North Carolina's marine fisheries resources are at a critical juncture, and Bruce is the person to lead us as we work to protect and preserve that resource.''
Recreational and commercial fishing interests in North Carolina were generally pleased with the announcement but cautioned that selecting a new division head is just the first step in restoring the credibility and morale of the agency.
``The main thing is thank God they made a decision,'' said Jerry Schill, executive director of the N.C. Fisheries Association, a commercial fishing trade group in New Bern. ``It's a very challenging time for him to come into the department.''
``If he's going to be given the latitude to work with us, then I feel pretty good about him,'' Schill said.
Joey Daniels, a Wanchese seafood dealer and a member of the state Marine Fisheries Commission, the policy-making board for coastal fisheries programs, said he was relieved to hear that someone had been hired to fill the post.
``I'm looking forward to having a director and working with whoever they've got to fill the post,'' Daniels said. ``But the problems with the division go deeper than the director, and if they don't change some of the people in management, there isn't going to be a thing changed.''
Freeman, a 1963 graduate of N.C. State University in Raleigh, earned a bachelor's degree in zoology, a master's degree in fishery science-oceanography from the University of Massachusetts and an A.A.S. degree in forestry from Paul Smith's College of Arts and Sciences in New York.
Before joining the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 1980, Freeman worked with the National Marine Fishery Service. He was the principal author of a management strategy for the United States Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery, and he completed a survey of eastern United States fishing groups.
He also has served as the administrator of New Jersey's marine fisheries program.
In his current position with New Jersey, he is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating and carrying out fish and wildlife research programs, as well as administration of the fisheries program. He also represented the state on the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council, Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission.
``He brings a lot of things to the table,'' said Selma, N.C., lawyer Robert V. Lucas, chairman of the state Marine Fisheries Commission. ``He has a vast amount of experience and knowledge of the fishery, which is extremely important . . . and he brings an important demeanor to fisheries.''
Freeman's new job begins March 1, but he is expected to visit North Carolina as early as next week.
He will be paid $80,000 a year, about $17,000 more than his predecessor. Efforts to reach Freeman in New Jersey were unsuccessful.
Last year, Hunt authorized an appropriation of up to $50,000 to hire a consultant to help with the search and to seek out qualified people to augment the list of those who applied for the job.
``It's a real feather in our cap to get such a qualified research professional,'' said Richen Brame, executive director of the state chapter of the Atlantic Coastal Conservation Association, which represents sports anglers. ``He's much better than anyone I thought we would be able to attract.''
The Division of Marine Fisheries has been the center of controversy and attention since fisheries Director William T. Hogarth left his post July 1 to accept a position with the National Marine Fisheries Service near Washington, D.C.
Bob Jamieson, 52, head of the division's regional office in Wilmington, has served as interim director of the division while the department conducted the nationwide search for Hogarth's successor.
Hogarth, 55, held the post of fisheries chief for eight years, longer than anyone else.
But during his last two years as director, Hogarth became a lightning rod for dissatisfaction with the division and with the population declines in many of the state's coastal fish species.
The state's program of enforcing fisheries regulations has come under attack this year by scientists, fishermen and former fisheries regulators who say the Division of Marine Fisheries enforcement section is unorganized and inefficient in enforcing coastal fisheries regulations.
With a new director ready to begin work, marine fisheries interests said on Friday that the state's next step should be to hire a deputy director to oversee the operations of the division staff while the division director focuses time and attention on meeting with fishermen, legislators and other policy makers.
``I view a deputy director as absolutely critical,'' Brame said.
Said Lucas: ``The next order of business has to be to obtain a deputy director. If we can show this is an integral part of fixing the fisheries, then I hope we will have bipartisan support for it.''
Those who have met Freeman described him on Friday as a good listener, a clear thinker and an articulate debater with an outgoing personality.
``He has a very deliberate demeanor,'' said Lucas. ``I feel comfortable that he will listen to both sides, but that doesn't mean he will do what everybody wants him to do.''
But, Schill said, some commercial fishermen have reservations about Freeman.
``I've heard commercial fishing guys from New Jersey who say this is going to be good for you and other commercial fishing guys from New Jersey who say this is death,'' he said.
Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, whose district includes about a third of the state's coast, said Freeman will face many challenges as the new fisheries director and he will support Freeman in meeting those challenges.
``He alone will not be able to successfully succeed,'' Basnight said. ``The commission and the people of this state will have some say in this.''
``He has to build the confidence back in the coastal community for the division and I'll do all I can to help him succeed.''
Some marine fisheries interests on Friday said one of Freeman's greatest challenges may be fending off the political pressure that helped undermine Hogarth.
``I think everybody across the board realizes the resource is in trouble and we're going to have to do what's right to protect it,'' Lucas said. ``And part of doing what's right is giving the director the authority to do his job.''
He said the Marine Fisheries Commission should play a more visible role in policy-making decisions to help deflect some of the criticism from the director.
``The commission has got to become more involved with the tougher decisions,'' Lucas said.
Joan Weld, the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources official who headed the search for a new fisheries director, had said in December that the state hoped to attract someone to head the agency that would be ``enticed into the challenge.''
On Friday, Lucas agreed that the challenge of the job likely appealed to Freeman.
``There's a tremendous opportunity in North Carolina to make things better,'' Lucas said. ``The real action, if you will, in terms of fisheries management is in North Carolina.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Bruce L. Freeman
by CNB