"Sarah's depth of experience in policy and management in the U.S. Pacific Islands is a tremendous asset to the region and the agency," said NOAA Fisheries Director Janet Coit.
Photo: NOAA Fisheries.
Sarah Malloy is the new Regional Administrator of NOAA's Pacific Islands Regional Office of Fisheries. The appointment marks a promotion for Malloy, who has served as Deputy Regional Administrator in the Pacific Islands Regional Office for the past ten years and has led the region in a temporary capacity for the last two years.
In her new position, Malloy, who officially took office on September 9, will continue to focus the region's work on the protection of endangered and threatened species and marine mammals, the sustainable use of marine life, and the conservation of the habitats on which these resources depend.
"Sarah's depth of experience in policy and management in the U.S. Pacific Islands is a tremendous asset to the region and the agency," said NOAA Fisheries Director Janet Coit. "In addition to her tremendous experience, Sarah makes a concerted effort to listen to others, is open to new perspectives, and seeks long-term solutions to the issues confronting the people and natural resources of the western Pacific. We are thrilled to have her step into this important leadership role."
Malloy has a B.A. in economics and public policy from Georgetown University and a graduate degree in public policy and economics from Princeton University, focused on environmental economics and science and technology policy. Prior to joining NOAA, she had an extensive career as a consultant in environmental economics.
In her performance, she focused on analyzing a variety of topics, such as the economic effects of climate change; the economic benefits of national parks; and the economic impacts of critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act.
Later, she first joined NOAA Fisheries as an analyst within the regional office's Protected Resources Division, working on Hawaiian monk seal response and Endangered Species Act Section 7 analysis. Afterward, and before joining the Pacific Islands Regional Office, Sarah Malloy served as the strategic planner for NOAA's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. During her tenure there, she was named the director of the Economics and Social Science program.
As Regional Administrator of NOAA's Pacific Islands Regional Office of Fisheries, Sarah Malloy will manage the largest geographic area within NOAA Fisheries' jurisdiction. The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) within the region includes more than 1.7 million square nautical miles of ocean —roughly equal to the total EEZ around the continental U.S., including Alaska.
"The Pacific Islands portfolio encompasses the largest geographical area within the agency's jurisdiction and presents many complex challenges, whether it’s fisheries and protected resources management or international resource management issues. Over the last decade, Sarah has shown that she is capable of helping to lead the region and skillfully tackling these challenges head on," said Sam Rauch, NOAA Fisheries' Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, commenting on the appointment.
"We have an extraordinary team in the Pacific Islands Regional Office," said for her part, Malloy who, as mentioned, has led the region on an interim basis for the past two years. "They are dedicated, innovative, and passionately committed to sustaining our marine resources for generations to come."
"It's truly an honor and a privilege to continue to lead them in this new capacity," she continued. "I look forward to our future accomplishments as we strive to enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change; foster greater inclusion and equity in our work with the many Pacific Islands communities; and ensure healthy and abundant seafood resources for our island homes."
Moreover, Malloy will also continue to work with the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center to integrate cutting-edge science into policy and management decision-making. They will work together—and with a diversity of people across the region—for the conservation and management of domestic and international marine resources.
Hers is the fourth appointment announced by NOAA Fisheries since the summer began. In late June, Celia Barroso was named as the new California Regional Aquaculture Coordinator. Then, by the end of July, Dr. Elaina Jorgensen was appointed Alaska Fisheries Science Center Chief of Staff. Finally, one month ago, in mid-August, we learned that Jennifer Ferdinand had been named Deputy Director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.
