The Society’s highest award for scientific achievement is presented to a living AFS member for original and/or outstanding contributions to fisheries and aquatic biology. The award consists of a bronze medal, a plaque, and honorarium. The award is presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society.

The Award of Excellence is administered by a special committee appointed by the AFS President.

Criteria for Selection

1. A monumental work, or
2. Original techniques or research methods, or
3. New, fresh ideas, viewpoints, or data which contribute remarkable to conservation management or basic understanding of aquatic resources, or
4. A new successfully executed fishery research or management program of national or international importance or
5. Imaginative an successful programs in fish conservation, education at any level of teaching or graduate student guidance, or
6. Important faunal or ecological discoveries or new taxonomic criteria, or
7. Research especially beneficial to mankind, or
8. Interdisciplinary research involving leadership in team efforts in the laboratory or field, or
9. Multiple successful efforts in a variety of field such as biology, public understanding, technical and popular writing, laboratory and filed research, inspiration leadership, enunciation of principles.

Specification and Limitations

Award recipient must be living at the time of selection.

The award will not necessarily be made annually, but will be made only in such years as there is substantial or unanimous agreement among members of the Award of Excellence Committee than an award is justified.

Submit Your Nomination

AFS Awards should be submitted online unless otherwise noted at https://afsawards.awardsplatform.com/.

Nominations typically require a candidate’s name, full contact information, biographical information, and qualifications for the award and/or history of service to the Society. The nomination package should include a cover/nomination letter that describes the nominee’s qualifications and any relevant projects; letter should include the title and contact information for both the nominator and the nominee. Cover letters should be limited to two pages.

Up to three supporting documents will be accepted for each nomination. Supporting documents may include a current CV (up to 4 pages) and additional supporting letters (up to 2 pages).

The Awards Committee is dedicated to AFS goal of increasing diversity and inclusion within our Society. As part of this effort, we highly encourage nominations for individuals from historically underrepresented groups in the fisheries field.

Past Recipients of the Award of Excellence