Committees

Conservation Information & Education Association

​Mission: To to promote professionalism in public information, public education, and public participation activities related to fisheries and wildlife management in the region, to provide opportunities and channels for cooperative efforts, and to encourage self-improvement among the members.
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​Chair: Emily Peacock, Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife

Federal Aid Coordinators

Mission: The NEAFWA Federal Assistance Coordinators Committee (hereafter FAC Committee) furthers NEAFWA’s purpose of promoting the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources by applying a detailed working knowledge of federal assistance programs to provide state1 input on programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Conservation Investment. The FAC Committee provides opportunities for state federal assistance coordinators to collaborate and exchange information on maters relating to federal assistance for fish and wildlife conservation and management within the Northeast region; coordinates with other NEAFWA committees on maters related to federal assistance; and develops actions, implements recommendations, and advises the Directors of NEAFWA on issues related to operational policies, administrative issues, and funding opportunities with federal assistance programs.

Chair: Ryan Leamy, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

Fish and Wildlife Health

Mission: The Fish and Wildlife Health Committee serves as a resource for NEAFWA and is responsible for providing guidance and recommendations on free-ranging fish and wildlife health topics to NEAFWA Directors. The committee shall coordinate with other NEAFWA committees to provide guidance and perspective and collaborate on fish and wildlife health-related surveillance, research, management, and responses, as warranted.

Chair: Melanie Kunkel, Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Co-Chair: Martin Feehan, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Fisheries Administrators Association

​Mission: The Northeast Fisheries Administrators Association (NEFAA) was established to further the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ purpose of promoting the conservation and management of fishery resources by: establishing, monitoring, and providing operational guidelines to specialty groups as requested by the Directors; working cooperatively for the development of realistic and utilitarian objectives for those specialty groups; discussing and taking appropriate action with respect to concerns and opportunities addressed by the specialty groups; serving as a technical review liaison between specialty groups and the Directors; recommending the establishment or dissolution of specialty groups as may be desired by NEFAA; providing counsel to the Directors on fisheries issues and accomplish other tasks as assigned by the Directors; and providing an opportunity to exchange ideas, methods, and approaches to administrative and operational issues and opportunities.

Chair:  Steve Hurst, New York Division of Fish and Wildlife

​Landscape Wildlife Conservation

Mission: The mission of the of the Northeast Landscape Wildlife Conservation Committee is to provide leadership and direction from the NEAFWA Directors and leadership within the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) on efforts related to large-scale landscape conservation needs and opportunities, including the development and coordination of shared priorities and interjurisdictional efforts.​

​Chair: Paul Johansen, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources​
Co-Chair: Sharon Marino, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Legal Committee

Mission: The Legal Committee is responsible for advising the NEAFWA Directors and making recommendations on legal matters and issues which may affect the ability of member states1 and provinces to fulfill their management responsibilities. The Committee shall coordinate with other NEAFWA committees to provide such legal information and perspective as may be beneficial to the accomplishment of those committees’ responsibilities. 

Chair: Christl Theriault, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Committee​

Mission: The R3 Committee was established to further NEAFWA’s interest in promoting participation in the lifelong pursuits of fishing, hunting, and recreational shooting by: facilitating effective communication and networking among member states and partners; directing resources towards regional trainings and workshops that help accomplish successful R3 efforts in the Northeast; and providing opportunities for committee members to better understand how to deliver effective programs to hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters within the NEAFWA region.​

Chair: ​Astrid Huseby, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Wildlife Administrators Association

Mission: The Northeast Wildlife Administrators Association (NEWAA) was established to further the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ purpose of promoting the conservation and management of wildlife resources by:  directing and charging Technical Working Committees with results-driven and science-based management actions; developing actions, implementing recommendations, and advising the Directors of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on issues relating to wildlife policy and administration, funding opportunities, and research and management priorities; and providing opportunities for NEWAA members to collaborate and exchange information on matters relating to wildlife conservation and management within the Northeast region.

Chair: Nathan Webb, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife