The American Fisheries Society is the world’s oldest and largest professional society dedicated to fisheries and aquatic species and we represent thousands of professionals and students that have dedicated their careers – their lives – to researching, conserving, and educating about the incredible fisheries and aquatic resources found in North America and around the world.
In the United States, these professionals serve as the stewards of America’s natural resources. They fulfill a critical role in managing our oceans, rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs, fish populations, and the waters, habitats, and ecosystems both aquatic species and people depend upon. They are field specialists that restore degraded habitats, enhance populations, and improve water quality; scientists working to understand the natural world to inform management decisions; and educators for the public, decision-makers, and future generations.
But the current termination of federal employees threatens the very foundation of fisheries and aquatic resources stewardship in this country. This deeply concerns us, and is alarming to all Americans. The breadth of firings – fish and wildlife biologists, hatchery managers, foresters, climate change experts, university professors, park rangers, naturalists, and many, many more – is unprecedented, irresponsible, and radical. The stewardship of our public trust resources nationwide relies on this skilled workforce to inform and implement management decisions founded in sound science to ensure sustainable use and enjoyment for all citizens. This stewardship is at risk, and with it the public trust resources citizens have enjoyed for generations.
The continued layoffs and other attempts to reduce the workforce will erode the knowledge, skills and experience needed to manage our natural resources. This will have long-term devastating impacts on everyone who relies on public lands and waters for their livelihoods and well-being.
The targeting of federal employees with probationary status is especially troubling because it unduly impacts early career professionals – the next generation of the civil service workforce for our land and water management agencies, fish hatcheries, forest nurseries, national parks and monuments, research facilities, and academic institutions. Recent information suggests the next step will be the elimination of the Cooperative Research Unit program, the backbone of graduate natural resources management education nationwide. These actions are devastating an essential professional workforce for years, perhaps decades.
Our system of federal investment in natural resource conservation returns enormous dividends in health for the country and the world, and is an economic engine for our national and local economies. Every dollar invested in conservation in the US has a positive return on investment of 2.4:1 (Southwick and Associates, 2013). The value this workforce brings to conservation, science, and stewarding our public trust resources cannot be overstated – all of which benefits every American citizen.
Therefore, the American Fisheries Society stands strong in its support for the federal workforce. AFS is implementing free job board postings to provide more opportunities for displaced workers. We are conducting an Employment Insecurity webinar to assist in job placement and planning for all job seekers. AFS is planning additional webinars on job related topics. We are gathering and disseminating resources for displaced federal employees. AFS is extending membership benefits for displaced federal employees. As additional opportunities and situations arise, AFS will continue to evaluate and provide those services it can.
And – we call on all of you to join us in this effort. Consider what you can do, and how you can contribute! Let’s demonstrate through actions what the American Fisheries Society is – a community of stewards of fisheries and natural resources. Thank you.
Jeff Kopaska
Executive Director
Miguel Garcia
AFS President
