An ad hoc steering committee was established to create a synthesis document, priority topics, and a vision for the New England Lobster Health Initiative (
NELHI) consisting of Roxanna Smolowitz (Marine Biological Laboratories (MBL)), Sylvain De Guise (Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG)), Paul Anderson (Maine Sea Grant), Kathy Castro (Rhode Island Sea Grant), Mark Gibson (Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)), Nancy Langrall (Senator Reed policy director), Ben Terry (URI student), Terry Smith (National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)), Jack Mattice (New York Sea Grant (NYSG)), Mike Marchetti (Rhode Island Lobstermen's Association (RILA)), Barry Costa Pierce (Rhode Island Sea Grant), and Stan Cobb (University of Rhode Island (URI)).