CAREER PROFILES • OPTIONS AND INSIGHTS: Willy Goldsmith

An interview with Willy Goldsmith, Executive Director, American Saltwater Guides Association about his career as an oceanographer is presented. Goldsmith mentions "I earned my PhD in marine science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in 2018. My dissertation focused on better characterizing the human dimensions and biological impacts of the recreational fishery for Atlantic blue-fin tuna on the US East Coast. As part of my degree, I also completed a sub-concentration in marine policy." I did not stay in academia at all after finishing my PhD, but instead moved directly into marine policy. My goal in attending graduate school had always been to gain a sturdy scientific foundation before ultimately working on policy issues. I was a history major in college, and despite being a lifelong avid angler and passionate follower of fisheries research and management, I had received little formal training in marine science in general and fisheries science in particular. I felt that having a sound understanding of the science that forms the basis of how we manage our marine resources was an important first step for being an effective contributor in the policy space.He adds "