Hello, my name is Erik Braun. I was raised in Rhode Island, where I spent much of my youth fishing in Narragansett Bay. I attended the University of Montana where I graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in wildlife biology. After graduation, I joined the Peace Corps and served in the Philippines working as a marine extension agent.

After the Peace Corps, I returned to my roots in RI, where I worked at the Point Judith Fisherman's Coop. Here I culled fish and learned the ins and outs of the commercial fishing industry. It was at the Point Judith Fisherman's Coop where I met my first National Marine Fisheries Service port agent. She told me about a summer job in Montauk NY, which I took sight unseen. I fell in love with Eastern Long Island and its incredible waters and fishing.

I have worked as a Fishery Reporting Specialist with the National Marine Fisheries Service for 17 years, as lead agent for the last 10 years. Historically, Fishery Reporting Specialists known as Port Agents, collect commercial landings data by working with commercial fishermen and fish dealers. We collect information on where, when and how fish are caught as well as taking biological samples for use in stock assessments. Port Agents are often the only face to face interaction fishermen have with the National Marine Fisheries Service (now called NOAA Fisheries). It was a pleasure working with NY's commercial fishing industry they taught me a lot about the marine ecosystem and fisheries management.