[STONINGTON, MAINE, July 31, 2024] Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries is pleased to announce recent staffing additions and promotions. Executive Director Dr. Alexa Dayton shared, “This is an energizing time for Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries as we hit our 21st anniversary, and double down our mission which is more relevant than ever before. I’m honored and humbled by the incredible talent we have on our team, and inspired by the passion that everyone brings to their work. With the addition of 4 new team members, we gained a collective wealth of skills, knowledge, and life experiences – you can just feel the buzz of energy that’s setting MCCF up for the long haul.” MCCF’s recently awarded Federal funding will allow for the advancement of critical research and education needs of Maine’s marine ecosystems and coastal fishing communities; with new staff onboard, the MCCF team stands ready to deliver.
Dr. Molly Miller joins MCCF as the new Fisheries Technical Programs Manager. Molly’s applied research focuses on the resilience of coastal communities in a changing environment. In her new role, she will have the opportunity to advance specific initiatives in support of adaptation in Maine fisheries, such as lobstering. Molly supports that critical two-way community engagement and dialog ahead of new regulations.
Molly brings an incredible skill set as a social-ecological systems scientist with expertise in social science research, conservation biology, and natural resource management. She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine and a Masters in Natural Resource and Environmental Management from the University of Hawai’i. She is a member of the Working Group on Social and Economic Dimensions of Aquaculture for the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Molly currently hails from Vinalhaven, where she lives with her full-time partner, Sam, and a roost of pet chickens. She is a member of the town’s Sea-Level Rise and Climate Committee and Board member of the Vinalhaven Land Trust.
Larry Clifford joins Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries as Development Director, overseeing grants, donor development, and other fundraising activities – in collaboration with MCCF staff and Board of Directors. He brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked as a grant writer, program/business developer, and nonprofit executive in the health care and renewable energy sectors. After receiving a B.A. in Art from Northwestern University, Larry went on to earn a Master’s in Biomedical Communications from the University of Texas/Southwestern Medical Center, then started his career as a biomedical illustrator. He considers it a privilege to work with rural and coastal communities throughout Maine and the U.S., most recently as an independent consultant. He and his wife Jane hail from Hampden, Maine, where they settled over a decade ago. Larry serves as a member of the Board of the Edith Dyer Library in Hampden.
Kimberley and Matt Larsen have joined the team to lead the delivery of the highly collaborative Eastern Maine Skippers Program (EMSP). The Larsens settled on Deer Isle in 1984 and have been running the Deer Isle-Stonington EMSP High School chapter for the past six years. They bring a very unique understanding of the EMSP program to their new role, along with a wealth of experience in working with students, fishing communities, and the inner workings of the public education system. Kimberley grew up in New Jersey on the Jersey shore and Matt hails from East Aurora N.Y. After attending Lock Haven University, they were married and made Deer Isle their home with their two daughters Kourtney and Allyson. They taught at Deer Isle-Stonington High School until their retirement in 2017. Kimberley is a former English teacher and Matt taught PE and Health, and served as the school’s Athletic Director for 33 years. They have been lobstering together on their boat the “Sunshine Daydream” since 1993. The Larsens “are thrilled and excited to work with the other cohort schools to make this the best year ever for the Skippers Program!”
After serving many years as the leader of the Eastern Maine Skippers Program (EMSP), Tom Duym will shift his focus to a new project in fishing gear adaptation. He will continue to engage with the next generation of fishermen as he works work with the community on adaptation efforts in the lobster fishery, looking for pathways to support risk reduction to whales through gear modifications. He will interface with the Maine Department of Marine Resources and area fishermen test new lobster gear and gear marking systems that allow the industry to adapt to upcoming right whale conservation measures. Tom will support increased industry access and familiarity with a range of available technologies and then funnel feedback to gear manufacturers and the regulatory process, regarding the efficacy of different gear technologies in a diverse fishery.
Tom is supporting that critical two-way community engagement and dialog, ahead of new regulations. He enjoys hook and line fishing with the 30’ family Novi boat and resides in Lemoine with his wife Amy.
Tate Yoder, formerly MCCF’s Media Specialist, has rejoined the organization as Communications Director. Tate comes back to MCCF with over seven years of experience in video production and non-profit communications, with a keen interest in Maine’s natural resources, and rural, coastal communities. Born and raised in the town of Penobscot, he’s established a deep connection to this area and its people. Well known for his award-winning film, “A Watershed Moment”, and the hugely popular ‘Ask Leroy! series, Tate brings imagery and visual stories from the field to our audiences and inspires deeper connections to Maine’s ecosystems, rivers, and the fisheries that we depend upon. Look for him out on the water with a camera in hand, flying a drone, or interviewing fishermen on the dock.
About Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF) The Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries’ (MCCF) is a non-profit on a mission to build sustainable fisheries and productive marine ecosystems, supporting resilient communities and maritime heritage in the Gulf of Maine. Situated in on the wharf in Stonington, Maine’s #1 Lobster port, MCCF operates a 10,000 sq. ft mixed use facility, which supports teamwork, scientific research, as well as public education and engagement. MCCF collaborates widely and on-the-ground as a boundary-spanning institution, to provide the connectivity that underpins durable outcomes in fisheries science and management. Founded in 2003, MCCF is guided by a dedicated 18-member Board of Directors, with a collective vision of a place called Downeast Maine where fishing can be sustained, forever.
For more information, news, and MCCF-related events please visit coastalfisheries.org.
### Contact: Bobbi Billings, Administrative Director Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (207) 367-2708 babillings@coastalfisheries.org