AUSTIN — The Secretaries of Interior and Commerce recently appointed Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Executive Director, David Yoskowitz, Ph.D., to serve on the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council.

The committee advises the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on aquatic conservation and restoration endeavors to benefit fishery resources and enhance recreational boating.

The council comprises individuals from coastal fish and wildlife resource management agencies, fishing and boating industries, and education or outreach organizations to address recreational angling, boating and aquatic resource conservation issues. The council not only advises the secretaries but also encourages partnerships among industry, the public, and government to advance conservation needs.

Yoskowitz was named executive director of TPWD in 2022 after previously serving in many roles at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He served as chief economist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2014 – 2015) where he helped develop the agency’s first Social Science Vision and Strategy. He also served on the National Research Council Committee on the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Mississippi Canyon-252 Oil Spill on Ecosystem Services in the Gulf of Mexico.

Yoskowitz previously sat on the Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committee for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Indifly, an organization dedicated to using recreational fisheries to create sustainable livelihoods for indigenous peoples around the world.

“I am honored to have been appointed to this committee that focuses not only on the core values of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department but conservation issues across the United States,” Yoskowitz said. “Working together with industry partners, outdoor enthusiast organizations, other fish and wildlife agencies, and various stakeholder groups helps us make more well-rounded recommendations to the Secretaires.”

This appointment is beneficial not only to Texas but all outdoor enthusiasts for advancing conservation and recreational needs. Find additional information about the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council on  their webpage.