Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel

The Council established its Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel (HE AP) to obtain advice on habitat and ecosystem management issues, including recommendations on Essential Fish Habitat policy statements and non-fishing activities that may pose a threat to Essential Fish Habitat. The HE AP’s recommendations are advisory in nature.

The HE AP comprises 26 members, 16 of which serve on four sub panels, one for each South Atlantic state. Appointees consist of scientists with habitat, biological, ecological, ecosystem, or other relevant expertise; federal and state agency representatives, conservationists, fishermen, and interested constituents.

The HE AP meets twice a year in spring and fall.

Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel Members

	Panel	Name	State	Seat
1	HEAP	Stacie Crowe (Chair)	SC	SC DNR
2	HEAP	Paul Medders (Vice Chair)	GA	GA DNR
3	HEAP	Charlie Deaton	NC	NC DMF
4	HEAP	Dr. Matthew Kenworthy	FL	FL FWCC
5	HEAP	Gregg Bodnar	NC	NC CZM
6	HEAP	Dr. Brenden Runde	NC	At-large
7	HEAP	Cameron Luck	NC	At-large
8	HEAP	Benjamin Thepaut	SC	SC CZM
9	HEAP	Paula Kenner	SC	At-large
10	HEAP	David Whitiker	SC	At-large
11	HEAP	(vacant)		GA CZM
12	HEAP	Thomas Jones	GA	At-large
13	HEAP	Stephen Morrison	GA	At-large
14	HEAP	Steve Miller	FL	FL CZM
15	HEAP	David Webb	FL	At-large
16	HEAP	Erin Spencer	FL	At-large
17	HEAP	Anne Deaton	NC	NOAA-SERO
18	HEAP	Dr. Matt Johnson	FL	NOAA-SEFSC
19	HEAP	Scott Kathey	GA	NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
20	HEAP	Simen Kaalstad	VA	ASMFC
21	HEAP	Brian Hooker	VA	BOEM
22	HEAP	Laura Busch	VA	US Navy
23	HEAP	Dr. Laurent Cherubin	FL	NOAA CIOERT
24	HEAP	Kevin Spanik	SC	SCDNR
25	HEAP	Walter “Trip” Boltin	SC	USFWS
26	HEAP	Dr. Wilson Laney	NC	At-large
27	HEAP	Rua Mordecai	NC	At-large