David Beutel retired in 2020 from a career in fisheries. He started as a commercial fisherman working in the following fisheries: bottom trawling, purse seining, floating fishtrapping, and pair trawling. He owned a fishing gear manufacturing company building bottom trawls, pair trawls, pelagic gillnets, trawl doors and other commercial fishing gear. Mr. Beutel worked at the University of Rhode Island as a fisheries instructor, fisheries and aquaculture extension agent, fishing vessel safety trainer, and fisheries researcher. The final stage of his career was as the fisheries and aquaculture coordinator for Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council. Fisheries and aquaculture research continued in this position, which also include developing marine spatial planning policy for the offshore wind energy projects in southern New England.