The only known candidate under consideration by state Marine Fisheries Director Paul Diodati is Tom Dempsey, who is policy director for the Cape Cod fishermen's association, reporting to Pappalardo at the group's Chatham headquarters.

Diodati's spokeswoman, Catherine Williams, declined to discuss the selection process or identify other candidates who have put their interest in serving on the council in writing.

"It is not appropriate to discuss the process in public," Williams said in a telephone interview. She would only say that there was a solicitation process, and that the Division of Marine Fisheries "received nine complete applications, which are currently under review."