Making Waves |
Aug/Sept 2012
Page 17
leadership and tutelage of Hal When he’s not attending NEFMC meetings, working on forage species issues or pressing Lyman and Frank Woolner, the the case for recreational fishermen in management plans you can find Gibson fishing the magazines founders. After five beautiful coast of Maine. years he was promoted to editor, a position he held for 23 years. His dedication to excellence was in strong part responsible for the publication’s incredible growth and the development of a loyal readership. While there he penned hundreds of articles that appeared in its pages and gained an enviable reputation with the writers who work with him. In addition his writing has appeared in numerous outdoor magazine including Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Yachting, MotorBoating, Offshore, Tide, the Fisherman, Striped Bass, Fishing Facts, Striper and Sports Illustrated. After leaving Salt Water Sportsman Barry served as editor of back in the early 1980’s, and in 1986 ational side, so our input is important.” Center Console Angler and associate was appointed to the New England Gibson says he has really enjoyed his publisher of Fish Boats Registry maga- Fishery Management Council, on relationship with the RFA for the past zines, and has been the saltwater col- which he served for nine years. Durseven years. “One of the great things umnist for Maine Sportsman since ing his tenure on the Council he was about being an RFA representative at 1985. He has appeared on numerous particularly active in cod, haddock, fishery meetings is that everyone television shows including Fishing and flounder management, and knows exactly where I’m coming from. New England; Mark Sosin’s Saltwater served four years as chairman of the They may not all agree with me, but Journal; On the Hook and George Groundfish Committee. “The early 90’s they know my agenda. I’m an advoPoveromo’s World of Saltwater Fish- were pretty dismal days,” he recalls. cate for the recreational sector, and ing. He is a frequent guest speaker at “The cod had started to collapse, and I‘m always pushing to make sure that outdoor clubs and fishermen’s associa- we knew we had to cut back on sport fishermen get full and appropritions in the off-season and co-hosts catches, but many in the commercial ate access to our fishery resources, the New England installment of the fishing industry were still making which is RFA’s mission as well. EverySalt Water Sportsman National Semi- good money and didn’t want to give one in New England knows I’m a connar Series. Barry also serves as a vice- up any fish. It was a difficult time, but servationist, but they also know that I president of the Northeast Charter- we got through it.” won’t roll over and accept restrictive boat Captains Association (which he In 1998, two years after his Council measures that aren’t based on good co-founded in 1988) and is the chairterm expired, Gibson was appointed science.” man of the Saltwater Fishing Commitchairman of the Council’s newlyGibson also says that having a nationtee for the Sportsman’s Alliance of formed Recreational Advisory Commital organization behind him is extremeMaine. In addition he’s an NRAtee, a position he continues to hold ly helpful. “I feel I have some real certified pistol instructor, a member of today. “We advise the council on rechorsepower behind me when I testify the Boothbay Port Committee, an avid reational measures,” he explained. at meetings or write letters to fishery collector of antique fishing tackle, and “We often have to make some tough officials or members of congress. RFA’s when he has to get away from it all he decisions as to how we (the recreathousands of members, along with retreats to the Rangeley Lake region tional sector) will reduce mortality to our recreational fishing industry supof Maine to fly fish for trout. meet stock rebuilding targets, but it’s porters, combine to deliver a lot of A long-time proponent of responsible much better for our committee of clout. Our testimony gets listened to fishery management, Gibson served charter captains and anglers to make and carefully considered. That’s what on the Advisory Committee for the these decisions rather than to leave it it’s all about.” International Commission for the Con- to the Council. Many Council memservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) bers don’t really understand the recre-