Charles (Chad) Keith

Chad is the Branch Chief for the Fisheries Monitoring Operations Branch within the Fisheries Monitoring and Research Division . FMO works directly with fishery observers and the fishing industry to collect data on catch, landings and fishing operations in the Northeast Region. Staff in FMO support observers collecting high quality data that are used for stock assessments, fishery management, monitoring protected species and ecological studies.

FMO staff also support the implementation of the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM), overseeing industry-funded observer programs , electronic monitoring programs and Observer Safety in the Northeast.

Chad formerly worked as the Shellfish Survey Program Lead within the Ecosystems Surveys Branch . His responsibilities included supervising shellfish survey program staff, communicating with internal/external partners, and coordinating seasonal fishery-independent shellfish surveys including the Northern Shrimp Survey, Atlantic Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Survey, and the Sea Scallop Dredge and NEFSC HabCam survey.

Chad started with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center as a biological science technician, going to sea on many shellfish and finfish surveys aboard commercial and research vessels for the Invertebrate Task in the Population Dynamics Branch . In PopDy Chad assisted with shellfish assessments, GIS mapping, and led Atlantic wolffish and hagfish assessment updates for a short time. After 15 years in PopDy Chad became a Fishery Biologist in the Fisheries Sampling Branch (Observer Program) where he was the Industry Funded Scallop Program, Outreach and Biological Sampling leads.

Chad's educational background includes a BS in Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University and MS from Oregon State University in Geography and a minor in Marine Resource Management. He lives on Cape Cod with his wife and their daughter.

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