Stephen Poland is a marine resource management professional with more than 15 years of experience in fisheries science, environmental policy, and stakeholder engagement. A proud lifelong North Carolinian, his connection to the state's coastal waters runs deep—and his career has been dedicated to ensuring those waters remain healthy and accessible for generations to come.

Stephen's career began at the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, where he served as the species lead for Spotted Seatrout—one of the most treasured fish among anglers throughout North Carolina and the Southeast. That early experience shaped his understanding of what successful environmental management truly requires: the integration of quality science with genuine respect for the citizens who cherish and depend on our natural resources.

He rose to serve as Fisheries Management Section Chief at NC DMF, where he managed a large team of fisheries science professionals across five offices, oversaw operations for numerous fisheries science and monitoring surveys, and led the team in development and implementation of fishery management plans. His work required constant engagement with the public and the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission to build consensus on complex resource management decisions.

Stephen also served as North Carolina's representative on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (2018–2021), gaining firsthand insight into federal fisheries management processes and building relationships throughout the South Atlantic fisheries community. Most recently, he worked as a Research Fisheries Biologist with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, coordinating the Red Snapper Recreational Data Improvement Initiative in the Gulf of America.

He holds a Master of Science in Biology and Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University. He has co-authored more than 15 peer-reviewed publications on topics including climate vulnerability assessments, discard mortality studies, habitat impacts to fish survival, and fishery population dynamics.

Today, Cynoscion Environmental Consulting carries forward Stephen's philosophy that conservation and citizen access are complementary goals. The company name honors the genus Cynoscion—which includes the Spotted Seatrout—representing both his professional origins and his enduring commitment to North Carolina's marine heritage.