The panel is comprised of five people representing various interests in the management of fisheries resources and aquatic habitats. The committee includes:

• Susan Hitchcox of the Maine Audubon Society, representing conservation interests of aquatic ecosystems throughout the state.
• Skip Trask of the Maine Professional Guides Association, representing an outdoor economic industry that depends on the health of the state's inland fisheries.
• Jeff Reardon, New England Conservation Director for Trout Unlimited, representing an organization whose mission is to preserve, protect and restore trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.
• Dennis Smith, a citizen fisheries activist from Northeast Harbor, who has been actively involved in fisheries management decisions as a member of SAM (Sportsman's Alliance of Maine) fisheries committee.
• Vaughn Anthony, a retired fisheries scientist and administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Among the topics the committee will review will include planning and budgeting; staffing; leadership and technical skills; laws, rules and policies governing the program; decision making processes; and resource management and public involvement practices.

A grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and monies from other sporting organizations within the state fund the review. The panel met for the first time on March 7, and will continue to be meet through the year. The commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will submit a report to the next legislature presenting the findings and recommendations of the panel next January.