From Executive Director Doug Austen: Key AFS Accomplishments in 2016

10 Key Accomplishments of AFS in 2016 and Why You Need to be an AFS Member if You’re Not Already!

1. Published key report on the Future of the Nations Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – This first ever AFS document has already been circulated to key congressional members and staff and AFS partners in the D.C. area and nationwide. This report will set the stage for critical discussions with decision-makers to ensure that fisheries issues are given needed attention in the new administration.  For more information go to:  https://fisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Web-Policy-Brochure2.pdf
2. The Mississippi and Yangtze Rivers were the subject of the new AFS publication describing the fisheries resources and ecology of these two world-class rivers that tie two great nations together in science and river conservation. For more information go to:  https://fisheries.org/bookstore/all-titles/afs-symposia/54084p/
3. 1,200 fisheries professionals gathered in Kansas City for the AFS annual meeting. AFS members also gather in meetings in four divisions and throughout North America as part of dozens of Chapter and Section meetings.
4. Important professional training was provided to fisheries professionals through a sold-out rotenone class at Utah State University and through 12 classes at the Kansas City meeting. In addition, there were dozens of CE training classes held in conjunction with Division and chapter meetings.
5. 4,963 pages of science were published in the six AFS journals in 2016. Your Society publishes some of the most important fisheries science journals in the world.  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, Marine and Coastal Fisheries, North American Journal of Aquaculture, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health and, of course, Fisheries.  For more information go to:  https://fisheries.org/books-journals/journals/
6. Critically important Congressional briefings were organized by AFS on Capital Hill on change and inland fisheries (with the U.S. Geological Survey) and Advances in Geospatial Tools to Enhance Aquatic Conservation (with the U.S. Forest Service and co-hosted by Congressman Mike Simpson (Idaho) and Derek Kilmer (Washington)). These briefings were done to nearly full houses of congressional staff, researchers and key partners working on aquatics issues.  Check it out at: https://fisheries.org/policy-briefings/
7. AFS sends science letter to the incoming Trump Administration – AFS and the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS) started to engage the new administration through a joint letter emphasizing the importance of aquatic resources and the role of sound science in decision making. AFS is a partner in CASS which includes the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF), Phycological Society of America (PSA), Society for Freshwater Science (SFS), and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS).  This is just the start of what will be many engagements with the new administration by AFS to highlight the critical importance of our marine and freshwater fisheries resources.  AFS is your professional voice as this new administration moves into office!  For more on this letter, go to: https://fisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CASS-Trump-Transition-Letter_Final-with-Signatures.pdf  while other AFS letters can be found at:  https://fisheries.org/policy-media/policy-letters/
8. Global fisheries with a focus on food and economics in developing countries was the subject of a 2016 book published by AFS as a result of leadership involvement in the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization 2015 Global Conference on Inland Fisheries. AFS members and staff were heavily involved in this world gathering of fisheries leaders in Rome to find better solutions to managing these fisheries.  https://fisheries.org/bookstore/all-titles/professional-and-trade/55076p/
9. AFS is a key leader in the World Council of Fisheries Societies (WCFS) which, with hosting by the Korean Society of Fisheries Science, convened the 7^th World Fisheries Congress in Busan, South Korea in May 2016. http://wfc2016.or.kr/english/main/index_en.asp .  This event, with large AFS involvement, brought together fisheries scientists, management, policy experts and conservationists from throughout the world.  AFS members played a key role in organizing the program, coordinated activities of the WCFS, and were key presenters in many sessions.
10. Our science network is growing stronger every day, casting a wider net with more and more fisheries professionals. For example, in 2016 we saw impressive growth in our social media audiences. We more than doubled our Twitter followers to 6,000, increased our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and other interactivity significantly. We doubled our e-newsletter audience. We significantly increased the number of members and non-members accessing our magazine and journals by working with our publishing company to enlarge AFS’s social media footprint in the science community.

So please join us, to support the future fisheries and these many important activities you should either renew your membership or become an AFS member.  To do so, simply go to:   https://secure.fisheries.org/MemberResponsive/Membership_Applications/Join_Now_Links.aspx