James Balsiger has been appointed as acting assistant administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service.
Balsiger will direct federal scientists and regulators responsible for managing commercial and recreational ocean fishing and the protection of marine mammals, sea turtles and their respective habitats.
"We are counting on Jim to keep NOAA's Fisheries Service moving in the right direction," said NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher in a prepared statement. "Jim has the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve the presidentâ??s important goals of ending overfishing and promoting aquaculture to meet the nationâ??s ecological and food source needs."
Balsiger, who has been regional administrator for NMFS Alaska region in Juneau since 2000, succeeds Bill Hogarth, who retired in late December.
