Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gerard Chidley as Chair of the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) Advisory Committee. 

A native of Renews, NL Mr. Chidley has been active in the marine industry since 1972 as owner and co-captain of the multi-species fishing vessel Atlantic Champion. He has also been the industry representative with a number of fisheries research, conservation and management organizations at the regional, national and international level.
 
Committed to conservation and sustainability in the fishing industry, Mr. Chidley is focused on responsible fishing, education, professionalism and safety. He will guide the CFER Advisory Committee for the next 5 years. 

“We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Chidley as Chair of the CFER Advisory Committee,” said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president, Memorial University (Marine Institute). “With more than 40 years of experience in the harvesting industry off our coast and a wealth of experience with various industry organizations, I am certain that his extensive background will be an asset to CFER and the Fisheries and Marine Institute.” 

At an industry level, Mr. Chidley has been involved in the restructure of the fishery and has worked with oil and fishing industry representatives as well as other ocean-goers around environmentally-sound exploration and development in the offshore. 

An active volunteer, he has served in a variety of roles both provincially and across Canada. Since starting his career in the fishery, he has been a member, commissioner, council member, chair and board member with organizations such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, 3L large supplementary crab fleet and inshore council, 3L shrimp fleet, northern shrimp advisory committee, Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation and One Ocean. 

Currently, he is the industry commissioner with Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) and a member of the East Coast Otter Trawl Committee. He also serves on the Atlantic Large Pelagics Advisory Committee and is Canada’s Public Member South on Environmental Studies Research Funds. He is an executive board member with ECAG, a Canadian Marine Advisory Council member and chair of the fishing industry board with Transport Canada. For the past twenty years, he has served with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.  

Mr. Chidley holds a Fishing Masters Class 1 and certificates in Master Intermediate Voyage and First Mate Foreign-Going. 

The CFER Advisory Committee was created in 2012 to provide expert advice and recommendations to CFER management and scientists regarding the areas of research that will have the greatest impact on Newfoundland and Labrador and its fisheries. This information will assist CFER in the development of its research plans and priorities research moving forward. The committee consists of members from the Newfoundland and Labrador fish harvesting and processing sectors and other stakeholders in the fishing industry.