Ryan Nichols is the Atlantic Region Port Agent Supervisor for the Catch Validation and Bio-sampling Branch. Ryan has worked in fisheries for over 20 years, starting as a field biologist for Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS), investigating ocean and estuarine use of juvenile bluefish, and residency times of striped bass in the Great Bay/Mullica watershed in Southern New Jersey. Ryan came to NOAA Fisheries in 2006, where he worked at Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center focusing on life history related research of deepwater snapper/grouper and building strong collaboration with the commercial fishery and fisheries dependent surveys. Ryan is passionate about working with the fisheries industry and stakeholders. In 2022, Ryan migrated back to the mainland to work at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in the Fisheries Statistics Division. Ryan currently is supervising the port agents of the South Atlantic area and interacting with vessel captains and dealers daily. When he is not covered in fish scales, Ryan can be found playing guitar, fishing, or sitting on the beach with his family.