Richard St. Pierre and Commission Board President Richard Czop

Richard St. Pierre, a fisheries biologist with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service who for the last 23 years has played a key role in efforts to restore American shad to the Susquehanna River basin, has been named the recipient of the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award from the Fish and Boat Commission.

“Dick has made substantial and unique contributions to the very essence of the Fish and Boat Commission, that being the shad restoration program. Dick’s work is recognized world-wide as a hallmark of achievement and professionalism,” said Commission Executive Director Douglas Austen.

St. Pierre, of Millerstown, Perry County, was presented the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award at an evening reception January 23 at PFBC headquarters in Harrisburg.

Since 1982, St. Pierre has served as the Fish & Wildlife Service’s Susquehanna River Fisheries Coordinator. In that capacity he managed and directed a complex multistate-federal-utility anadromous fish restoration program, chaired technical committees, served on fish passage advisory committees, prepared annual reports and work plans, and managed the budget and database.

He led negotiations for four settlement agreements with utility companies on shad population rebuilding, fish passage and flow issues. From 1996 to 2004, he chaired the Chesapeake Bay Program's interagency Fish Passage Workgroup and served as a member of the Bay Program’s Living Resources Subcommittee.

Over the years he has taken his expertise far beyond the Susquehanna River, assisting in a Fish & Wildlife Service International Affairs program with nations such as China, Russia, Italy, France and Iceland.

In accepting his award, St. Pierre recalled numerous past experiences with Ralph Abele and credited him with establishing the federal Susquehanna River Coordinator position.

The Commission established the Abele Award to recognize citizens of Pennsylvania who have made outstanding contributions to the protection, conservation and enhancement of the aquatic resources of the Commonwealth, through one or more of the following accomplishments:

· Personally invested heavily in the long-term education of youth on conservation issues vital to an improved aquatic environment;

· Put at risk their person and livelihood to undertake public activities and positions on behalf of improving and protecting the aquatic resources;

· Led a regional or statewide environmental effort that has been recognized for its duration and success in protecting and enhancing the aquatic resources;

· Played a leading role in reclaiming and enhancing a major significant natural water resource within the Commonwealth;

· Led an effort to pass major environmental legislation for the protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural environment; and

· Brought national recognition to Pennsylvania through personal activities, actions and contributions to the aquatic resources.

The Abele Award serves as a memorial to Ralph Abele for his steadfast and courageous work in protecting and conserving our natural resources.

Past Abele Award winners include: Ken Sink, Dr. Maurice Goddard, Lenny Green, Dr. William Kodrich, Robert W. McCullough, Jr., Peter Duncan, James L. Myers, Larry J. Schweiger, Enoch S. ("Inky") Moore, Robert P. Ging, Jr., Raymond Savel, Dr. Ed Bellis, Edward Kissell and Rozell Stidd.

Ralph W. Abele served as executive director of the Fish Commission from 1972 until 1987. His goal was to protect Commonwealth waters, conserve our aquatic resources and enhance fishing and boating in Pennsylvania.

He was quoted as proclaiming "If the fish can't survive in the water, there are serious problems for man." Ralph’s "Resource First" philosophy continues to guide the Fish and Boat Commission today.

1/27/2006