Today, the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) announced the appointment of Bonnie Brady as Policy Director and Jason Joyce as Director of Advocacy, two key leadership roles that will strengthen NEFSA’s efforts to support fishermen and coastal communities.
Bonnie and Jason bring decades of experience advocating for fishermen and the communities they serve. Their leadership will be instrumental in shaping NEFSA’s approach to critical issues facing the fishing industry – from sustainable practices and regulations to the impacts of offshore wind development – ensuring that the voices of fishermen remain at the center of any policy decisions.
Read Below for more about Bonnie and Jason’s backgrounds and the experience they bring to NEFSA.
Bonnie Brady, Policy Director:
Bonnie Brady has served as Executive Director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association (LICFA) since its founding in 2001, where she educates policymakers and the public about the heritage, value, and realities of Long Island’s commercial fishing industry. She works to highlight the importance of buying U.S. wild-caught, locally landed seafood and represents the industry’s perspective at the town, county, state, and federal levels.
She also serves on six advisory panels across two regional fishery management councils, the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils, providing at-sea and shoreside perspectives to help inform management decisions.
In addition to her work with LICFA, Ms. Brady is a founding board member of the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) and a board member of Protect Our Coast-New Jersey, and was recognized as one of National Fisherman’s “Highliners of the Year” in 2020. A 20-year volunteer with the Montauk Fire Department and its first paramedic, her earlier career included working for Senator Bill Bradley in Washington, DC, serving as a Peace Corps health volunteer in Cameroon, and working as a print reporter.
Bonnie lives in Montauk, New York, with her husband, commercial trawler fisherman Dave Aripotch, and their two daughters.
Jason Joyce, Director of Advocacy:
Capt. Jason Joyce is an 8th generation Swan’s Island Maine commercial fisherman and USCG licensed captain. At 56, with experience in groundfishing, urchining, scalloping and shrimping, Jason has spent most of his 40 plus years on the water lobstering.
Currently following his grandmother Roberta Joyce’s footsteps in a fourth term as town Selectman, Jason also serves industry on the Zone B lobster council and represents Zone B fishermen on the Maine Department of Marine Resources Lobster Advisory Council.
Recently resigning in Nov 25′ from the Maine Lobstermen’s Association board after serving 23 years, he looks forward to his more involved role on NEFSA’s board as Director of Fisheries Advocacy.
A husband of 36 years and a father of 4 with 6 grandchildren, this role is more than a position. He considers it a solemn duty to ensure the following generations have a voice fighting for sustainable opportunities previously held by New England’s fishermen to provide for their families and sustain their communities and feed their nation.
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NEFSA remains dedicated to supporting the interests of fishermen by advocating for fair policies that preserve our way of life and the living working infrastructure behind sustainable domestic seafood and coastal economies. With Bonnie and Jason’s leadership, NEFSA will continue to advance initiatives that safeguard our fisheries and sustain coastal communities for generations to come.
