Community—the real and lasting ingredient of the American Fisheries Society

The historical context of current environmental conditions offers vital guidance to North American fisheries professionals as they strive to develop effective management plans and policies. Through this retrospective we highlight the remarkable historic fisheries resources and reasons for establishing public fisheries agencies and the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Through a review of primary historical documents and literature for North America, this paper identifies factors contributing to the founding of AFS and public fish commissions; shows how selected resource issues evolved; and documents how and why selected fisheries and aquatic habitat policies changed in response to those issues. Overexploitation, landscape-scale habitat alterations, mining, and dams were the causative agents for emergence of fisheries agencies and AFS, and these factors remain relevant today. Beginning in the 1960s, after 100 years of policy inaction, North Americans grew tired of degraded waters and fisheries and forced policy changes that have directly and indirectly affected the fisheries we manage today. The historical events and resulting corrective legislation are taken for granted by those unaware that AFS has actively participated in developing policies to address these environmental harms. Further, AFS continues to play a vital role in identifying key issues, providing conduits for information to cope with impairments, and advocating for policies to conserve intact habitats and improve degraded systems. The struggles documented in this paper offer crucial lessons as we continue to be challenged by legacy resource issues and face emerging environmental stressors, such as climate change, as well as regression in long-standing environmental protection policies.

Previous articleNext article No AccessSustainable Management of North American Fisheries. Based on a symposium held in Phoenix, Arizona, 22–23 August 2001. American Fisheries Society Symposium, Volume 43. Edited by E Eric Knudsen, Donald D MacDonald, and , Yvonne K Muirhead. Bethesda (Maryland): American Fisheries Society. $69.00 (paper). ix + 281 p; ill.; no index. ISBN: 1‐888569‐65‐4. 2004.Peter J AusterPeter J AusterMarine Sciences and National Undersea Research Center, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Groton, Connecticut Search for more articles by this author Marine Sciences and National Undersea Research Center, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Groton, ConnecticutPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Quarterly Review of Biology Volume 80, Number 4December 2005 Published in association with Stony Brook University Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/501300 Views: 2Total views on this site PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

<i>Abstract.—</i>The American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the oldest professional organization for fisheries scientists in the world. Through its evolution from a fish culture organization to a multifaceted association of diverse specialists, AFS began to implement strategic planning by the early 1990s. Its 2004 Strategic Plan establishes priorities for aquatic stewardship, with three core goals: policy leadership, public education, and resource conservation advocacy. Without leadership and advocacy for local and global stewardship, aquatic resource goals are unattainable. What role should AFS play in fostering future stewardship efforts? With whom should AFS partner and for what goals? To gain insights to answer these questions, several AFS parent society and unit leaders were canvassed to identify examples of stewardship successes at all society levels. The resulting examples were organized into seven major areas encompassing one or more of the stewardship focus areas: (1) scientific communication, (2) resource policy advocacy, (3) global outreach, (4) education, (5) youth activities, (6) habitat restoration and assessments, and (7) leadership development. Responses provided many suggestions for advancing AFS stewardship goals, such as involvement in State Wildlife Grant programs, the National Fish Habitat Initiative, more leadership development/mentor programs, and global partnerships. A major conclusion is that novel opportunities abound and that AFS should seek to cultivate relationships with nontraditional partners such as watershed coalitions, land trust organizations, and community-based service groups. AFS has had many stewardship successes. However, future successes will depend on how AFS leverages its expertise, synergizes innovative partnerships, and creates new connections to promote tangible accomplishments in aquatic resource stewardship. The AFS strategic plan, if fully embraced by all AFS units and creatively leveraged with partners, is the launch pad for catalyzing future strategies that build on past successes.

Transactions of the American Fisheries SocietyVolume 75, Issue 1 p. 11-15 Presidentˈs Message The American Fisheries Society—Its 75th Anniversary John van Oosten, John van OostenSearch for more papers by this author John van Oosten, John van OostenSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1948 https://doi.org/10.1577/00028487.1948.10493255Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume75, Issue1January 1948Pages 11-15 RelatedInformation

The American Fisheries Society (AFS) has a long history of scientific, management, and policy interests in the U.S. Endangered Species Act and other federal, tribal, state, provincial, and international laws pertaining to imperiled species. For decades, AFS has hosted technical sessions, developed policy, and participated in critical discussions pertaining to imperiled species conservation. For this reason, the AFS leadership elected to update the Societys three policy statements on imperiled species, which are no longer official under AFS bylaws because they expired as official AFS policy in 1987, 1993, and 1999. As part of the effort to update, here we (1) review the elements of imperilment, (2) present the history of AFS engagement on imperiled species policy issues, and (3) set the goals to update this policy and the AFS policy process moving forward. Our intent is to launch a dialogue that leads to an AFS policy statement on imperiled species, supported by primary literature, that can be updated with minor revisions every five years.

<em>Abstract.</em>—Hurricane Katrina (landfall 29 August 2005) and Hurricane Rita (landfall 24 September 2005) devastated large portions of Louisiana and Mississippi and caused significant impacts to Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Immediately following these storms, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) established the AFS Hurricane Relief Task Force (HRTF). The HRTF was composed of AFS chapter officers from Louisiana and Mississippi as well as state and government agency personnel and university faculty and staff from the impacted region. Because essential members of the HRTF were dealing with personal, professional, and agency needs in the months immediately following these storms, a meeting of the HRTF could not be scheduled until 13 January 2006. This 1-d meeting, held on the campus of Louisiana State University, resulted in the drafting of the AFS Hurricane Relief Initiative Action Plan. During January–February 2006, the HRTF worked primarily through the organizational structure and leadership of the Louisiana and Mississippi chapters and coordinated these activities with the southern division of AFS (SDAFS), and the parent society’s officers, governing board, and executive director. The AFS Hurricane Relief Initiative Action Plan was approved and renamed the AFS Disaster Relief Program by the governing board during its midyear meeting in March 2006. In accordance with the approved program, administration and programmatic responsibility for the initiative were transferred from the HRTF to the SDAFS in June 2006, and funds to support the program were made available to the chapters through the SDAFS.

ABSTRACTThe survival of scientific societies depends on recruitment and retention of members. The importance of this strategy is underscored by the impending retirement of the Baby Boomer generation. Recent trends indicate alarming declines in many scientific societies—including the American Fisheries Society (AFS)—particularly as students transition into young professionals. Despite increased efforts to incentivize membership, overall membership losses continue to accrue annually. In order to address this issue, AFS needs to know more about the motivations of and perceived challenges that may limit the next generation of scientists. We describe an informal survey of student and young professional AFS members that was discussed during the plenary session of the 2010 AFS annual meeting. Ten questions were posed to students and young professionals to identify factors related to recruitment and retention of AFS membership, describe potential future challenges, and provide views on the direction of AFS and the fisheries profession. We relate these results to additional research on how the “Millennial generation” (those born after 1980) will change the workplace. By identifying common themes, we hope AFS members and governance at multiple levels will use this information in planning recruitment and retention initiatives aimed at the next generation of fisheries professionals.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Human Dimensions Research Unit at Cornell University conducted a membership survey for the American Fisheries Society (AFS) in 2008 to ascertain members' level of satisfaction with current AFS services and aid in the strategic planning process. A random sample of 1,500 AFS members was selected for a web-based survey, with a total of 747 surveys completed online. Based on survey results, the profile of AFS membership has changed little since the first membership survey in 1997, except that female membership increased from 16% in 1997 to 24% in 2008. A few highlights from the survey: (1) respondents felt that the reputation of AFS journals was quite high; (2) most respondents (86%) thought that if they were an author of an AFS publication, they would be willing to have their work published in an online journal rather than a print journal (with electronic copy); (3) most respondents (88%) support the development of web-based broadcasts of symposia from the Annual Meeting; and (4) among nine options for future priorities for AFS, enhancing public outreach was the most popular.

The Triennial Aquaculture Meeting ‘‘Aquaculture 2007,’’ one of the largest aquaculture meetings in the world, cosponsored by the World Aquaculture Society, National Shellfish Association, and American Fisheries Society (AFS) Fish Culture Section, was held February 26 through March 2, 2007, in San Antonio, Texas. At this meeting, the AFS Fish Culture and Fish Physiology Sections co-organized a symposium entitled ‘‘Physiological Insights Towards Improving Fish Culture.’’ The symposium goals included providing a forum that would allow fish physiologists and aquaculturists to exchange scientific ideas, establish research collaborations, and work to improve finfish production using recent developments in basic and applied research. The symposium focused on four primary aspects of fish physiology and aquaculture: growth, reproduction, stress and immunology, and analgesia and anesthesia. Fifty presentations covered a diversity of species reared in a variety of production systems. The symposium was very well attended and was widely considered a success, as evidenced in part by the collection of articles published in this issue of the North American Journal of Aquaculture. It is clear that physiologists and aquaculturists working together can solve many of the key problems currently constraining the sustainable growth of world aquaculture. We wish to thank the symposium sponsors (Yellow Springs Instruments, Inc., and Aquatic Eco-Systems), the AFS Fish Culture and Fish Physiology Sections, and all of the scientists who participated in this inaugural symposium. The AFS Fish Culture and Fish Physiology Sections intend to host this symposium at all future Triennial Aquaculture Meetings, and we invite you to join us in San Diego in 2010.

Standardization is a critical component of scientific inquiry, but has been difficult to implement for inland fisheries sampling in North America. In 2009, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) published Standard Methods for Sampling North American Freshwater Fishes. Since publication, numerous management agencies have adopted AFS standard methods. However, few agencies have reported on the utility of AFS standard methods. Here we discuss the process of adopting AFS passive standard methods for sampling lakes and reservoirs in South Dakota during 2012–2017 by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. Adoption of AFS methods took 5 years and was pursued as a defensible way to standardize passive gears used to survey most game fish across management regions. Many of the advantages, and potential challenges were realized while adopting AFS gears and methods, which will be relevant to other resource management agencies and researchers.

Transactions of the American Fisheries SocietyVolume 23, Issue 1 p. 35-37 Miscellany Relations of the Community to the Fisheries (A Paper Read Before the American Fisheries Society, 1894.) First published: January 1894 https://doi.org/10.1577/00028487.1894.10492789Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume23, Issue1January 1894Pages 35-37 RelatedInformation

Transactions of the American Fisheries SocietyVolume 37, Issue 1 p. 164-175 Miscellany Meeting of Committee on Size of Fish, American Fisheries Society Washington, D. C, September 21st, 1908, 6 P. M., at Arlington Hotel First published: January 1908 https://doi.org/10.1577/00028487.1908.10492071AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume37, Issue1January 1908Pages 164-175 RelatedInformation

Transactions of the American Fisheries SocietyVolume 64, Issue 1 p. 13-46 Part I: Business Sessions Transactions of the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society Montreal, Canada, September 12, 13 and 14, 1934 Fred A. Westerman, Fred A. WestermanSearch for more papers by this author Fred A. Westerman, Fred A. WestermanSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1934 https://doi.org/10.1577/00028487.1934.10493032AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume64, Issue1January 1934Pages 13-46 RelatedInformation

Fisheries scientists in the developing world are facing a crisis. They have few options for managing fisheries and few funds and support for implementing the options they have. University personnel operate with subsistence salaries, few books, no journals, and little research funding. At the same time fisheries resource issues are becoming more complex, and environmental problems more severe. Can North American scientists, agencies, and the American Fisheries Society (AFS) do more to help colleagues in need? What possibilities exist? Can possibilities be improved and expanded?

Many plans, one bottom line: save endangered salmon.