News

US-based wild steelhead protection body The Conservation Angler (TCA) has appointed Dr George Pess, an award-winning fisheries scientist and world-renowned expert in dam removal, as its Chief Operating Officer and Director of Science.

Dr. Pess joins TCA following a distinguished 26-year career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he led landmark research on salmonid recovery and ecosystem restoration.
The appointment formalises a professional partnership spanning three decades between Dr. Pess and TCA leadership.

TCA president John McMillan said: “George is a ‘heavy hitter’ in every sense of the word, but more importantly, he is a long-time friend and colleague I have worked alongside for 30 years.

 “Beyond his immense research skills and his status as a world leader in dam removal and ecosystem recovery, what truly sets George apart is his natural ease in working with people.

“He has built incredible relationships across agencies, tribes, and NGOs through his keen insight and an unwavering dedication to knowledge and transparency. As we scale The Northern Crown across the North Pacific to protect our best remaining wild fish populations, George’s leadership will be the catalyst for the rigorous, collaborative science we need to ensure future generations inherit rivers full of wild fish.”

His arrival coincides with the expansion of The Northern Crown, TCA’s network of sentinel rivers spanning from California to Kamchatka. While traditional restoration often focuses on the “house” – the physical habitat – TCA’s mission is to provide the “audit,” measuring whether the fish are actually responding to those improvements.

Dr Press added: “I’ve spent my career quantifying how ecosystems respond to change and I’m thrilled to join an organisation that empowers the people on the water to be the frontline of data collection.

“The Northern Crown represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to gather the high-resolution biological data needed to ensure wild steelhead and salmon thrive in a changing climate.”
theconservationangler.org