Education in the Era of the Millennials and Implications for Future Fisheries Professionals and Conservation

Abstract

AbstractFisheries and other natural resource professionals face growing challenges in their fields and the resources that they manage. Many are well aware of the pending impacts of retirement of the Baby Boomers and the loss of collective knowledge held by those individuals. We are also acutely aware of the damaging impacts of reduced budget allocations for natural resources–based programs. Concomitant to the decrease in funding is the ever‐increasing complexity of the fisheries discipline that brings with it new and more complicated ecological and governance challenges. These, and the evolving preferences, morals, and values of today's college students, pose a unique and difficult dynamic for engaging the next generation in the stewardship of fish and wildlife resources. Critical to the success of future conservation efforts will be the modification of educational and workplace systems, including the American Fisheries Society, to prepare and support future professionals so that they may handle this suite of complex, interdisciplinary issues. Understanding the characteristics of the next generation of natural resource leaders, and the individuals with whom they will interact in pursuit of conservation, is key to ensuring that they can meet the challenges of a new era in resources management. The purpose of this article is to describe the next generation of fisheries professionals (the Millennials) and to provide suggestions for how higher education and the fisheries profession can best prepare to support the success of this generation and ultimately the future of fisheries conservation and management.