Annual Meeting

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 21, 2018 – Dr. William Matthews received the Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award, also known as the “Sully,” is presented to an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to the conservation of fishery resources that may be political, legal, educational, scientific, or managerial in scope. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of Dr. Matthews and thank him for his continuous efforts to further the conservation of fishery resources,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. Dr. William J. Matthews’ influence on the conservation of stream fishes through dedicated research, service and mentoring of students has a span of over 40 years. Bill’s research, which has been disseminated in numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and books, has profoundly influenced many aspects of fisheries science. Much of his research focused on stream fishes in the central U.S. that are heavily impacted by land use, fragmentation and climate change. Bill’s early work described the key factors, such as physiological tolerances, of prairie fishes that are critical for their survival in these harsh environment. This work provided a foundation from which to assess how species respond to water extraction and deterioration of water quality associated with the growing human population. He also was a pioneer researcher on the impacts of global climate change on stream fishes. Bill’s seminal article published in 1990 in Fisheries described how fishes in the Great Plains are at risk from increasing temperature. This work paved a way for thinking about how stream fishes are influenced by a warming environment. Equally important, he established long-term records of fish communities that continue to be used to assess temporal changes in species abundance and distribution. In summary, Bill has demonstrated a career-long commitment to the conservation of stream fishes and his legacy extends to the numerous students and professionals that impact the field of fisheries conservation. Bill also has an extensive record of service. He served as president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and was recently recognized for his service with the Joseph S. Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, his conservation impact was recognized by the Southwestern Association of Naturalist with the George M. Sutton Conservation Award.     # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 22, 2018 – The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology received the William E. Ricker Resource Conservation Award at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. The William E. Ricker Resource Conservation Award recognizes singular accomplishments or long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation at a national or international level. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology and thank them for their continuous efforts to advance aquatic resource conservation,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM) is a collaboration among the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Fisheries Science Center and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) to promote research and development of fishery stock assessment methods. CAPAM has developed a Stock Assessment Good Practices Program (GPP) predicated on a sound science-based foundation that improves current stock assessments and allows more assessments to be conducted by less experienced practitioners. At the center of the GPP are workshops on stock assessment methodology, which involve both national and international scientists. In each workshop, leaders in the field hold open debates sparked by key questions from CAPAM staff, while students absorb the nuances to advance their deep learning on the topics. CAPAM has conducted five workshops covering the topics: fishery selectivity, growth, data weighting, recruitment and spatio-temporal modelling of CPUE data. Over 20 countries have had participants in the CAPAM workshops. The CAPAM workshops are particularly unique in their ability to foster community and enthusiasm in fisheries stock assessment research. The intense week-long workshops are intimate enough that early career scientists are included as equals and scoped such that they offer an intense introduction to topics that are fundamental to developing an ability to conduct stock assessments. CAPAM has advanced the state of stock assessment science, communicated these advancements through the peer-reviewed literature, facilitated incorporation of these advances in actual stock assessments, facilitated collaboration among researchers, and engaged new generations of assessment scientists at each step. # # # Editor’s Notes:   Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 21, 2018 – Dr. Gerald Jacobi, member of the Santa Fe River Commission, received the President’s Fishery Conservation Award at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. The President’s Fishery Conservation Award is awarded for singular accomplishments or long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation at a regional or local level. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of Dr. Jerry Jacobi and thank him for his continuous efforts to advance aquatic resource conservation,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. Dr. Jacobi  has worked tirelessly to develop a macroinvertebrate multimetric index for assessing the biological condition of New Mexico’s wadeable streams, and then used that index and ancillary information for improving water quality throughout the state. Dr. Jacobi’s research provided critical information for rehabilitating Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis and Gila Trout Oncorhynchus gilae gilae, and improving water quality in the Chama, Rio Grande, Mimbres, Pecos, Red, San Juan and Santa Fe Rivers, as well as numerous small creeks. Dr. Jacobi’s papers are extensively cited throughout the freshwater scientific community interested in freshwaters of the southwest. His teachings and research have been highly influential to his students, many of whom have become scientists within both state and federal environmental agencies where aquatic conservation is a primary concern. Dr. Jacobi was an excellent professor, teaching thousands of students. He is a great field biologist collecting tens of thousands of samples. But his strongest attribute may be his mentorship. Many of his students have gone on to pursue careers in the aquatic sciences and his legacy will live on helping conserve and shape the aquatic environment for years to come He received an AFS Golden Membership Award in 2011, and in recognition of his decades of work towards improving the ecological condition of New Mexico waters, he received the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award from the Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) and was selected as a SFS Fellow in 2017. # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 21, 2018 – Partnership for the Delaware Estuary received the President’s Fishery Conservation Award at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. The President’s Fishery Conservation Award is awarded for singular accomplishments or long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation at a regional or local level. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and thank them for their continuous efforts to advance aquatic resource conservation,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) is a regional nonprofit organization established in 1996 to take a leadership role in protecting and enhancing the Delaware Estuary. Its mission is to lead science-based and collaborative efforts to improve the tidal Delaware River and Bay, which spans Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The partnership is one of 28 National Estuary Programs established throughout the coastal United States working to improve the environmental health of the nation’s estuaries. The PDE’s core science and research programs demonstrate long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation in the expansive Delaware Estuary. The PDE partners with local scientists to monitor the health of its wetlands. The PDE has also partnered with Rutgers University to implement the Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative to help stabilize eroding shorelines. In addition, PDE scientists conserve native mussel populations and restore native freshwater mussels to the Delaware Estuary and River basin with the help of trained citizen scientists, and the PDE supports oyster restoration through its participation in the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Task Force. It has also helped to catalog and describe species living within the benthic ecosystem of the Delaware River and Bay, as well as create comprehensive maps of plant communities across the Delaware Estuary. PDE has also established and compiled a Standard Methods Bank to promote and share standard operating monitoring procedures and methods for various scientific investigations. These methods are used by PDE and its partners for living shoreline, wetlands, and freshwater mussel restoration and monitoring projects. # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 22, 2018 – The Arizona/New Mexico AFS Chapter received the award for Outstanding Small Chapter at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. The Best Unit Awards recognize outstanding professionalism, active resource protection and enhancement programs, and commitment to the mission of the Society. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of the Arizona/New Mexico Chapter and thank them for their continuous conservation efforts,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. The Arizona/New Mexico Chapter was recognized for their extensive and varied activities. In 2017 they met jointly with The Wildlife Society. Three hundred fifty people attended their 2017 chapter meeting where they sponsored 4 continuing education workshops, had 66 oral presentations, had a photo contest and a 5K spawning run. They offered $2,000 in student scholarships and $2,000 in a small grant program. Twelve chapter members made 13 oral presentations at the 2017 Annual AFS Meeting.. # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org  

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 22, 2018 – Oregon AFS Chapter received the award for Outstanding Large Chapter at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. The Best Unit Awards recognize outstanding professionalism, active resource protection and enhancement programs, and commitment to the mission of the Society. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of the Oregon Chapter and thank them for their continuous conservation efforts,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. The Oregon Chapter of the AFS was also chosen as the winner of the 2017 Outstanding Large Chapter Award for their extensive and varied activities including their education and outreach activities which consist of a website, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, chapter newsletters and a listserv which is sent to over 1,000 people. The chapter has members from over 110 organizations. They held two 2-day officer retreats and have a legislative liaison. They updated their White Paper on Suction Dredge Mining and produced a White Paper on Effects of Herbicides and Pesticides on Aquatic Organisms: Implications for Policy and Management. They had 3 continuing education workshops, 20 technical sessions, 220 oral presentations at their 2017 Chapter meeting which was attended by 525 people.   # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 22, 2018 – Robert L. Curry was awarded the Meritorious Service Award at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. The Meritorious Service Award recognizes an individual AFS member for loyalty, dedication, and meritorious service to the Society over a long period of time and for exceptional commitment to the programs, objectives, and long-term goals of the Society. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of Robert L. Curry and thank him for his continuous dedication to the Society,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. Robert has been a member of the American Fisheries Society since 1979 and has served AFS admirably at many levels within AFS. He is a member of the North Carolina Chapter, chaired its Education Committee, and served as their Chapter president. He has served as president of the Southern Division, and as president of the Fisheries Administration Section. Robert’s service to AFS committees includes Local Arrangements, Outstanding Chapter Award, Time and Place, Nominating, Membership Concerns, Management and the Awards Committee. Robert was the general chair of the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. His work in 2006-2008 as chair of the AFS Disaster Relief of Hurricane Katrina was effective and critical for natural resources agencies and scientists affected agencies received critical replacements of sampling gear, journals and other technical materials that significantly accelerated their abilities to resume scientific and management activities following the storm. He was recognized by the society with the Distinguished Service Award in 2007 for his part in overseeing the AFS Disaster Relief effort. Throughout his AFS service Robert has emphasized the professional development and AFS participation of students and young professionals, and he makes himself readily available to students and young professionals in informal settings to discuss their career aspirations and offers guidance based on his considerable experiences.   # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 22, 2018 – Jacqueline Chapman was named a runner-up for the J. Frances Allen Scholarship at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. This award is given annually to a female Society Member and doctoral candidate who is conducting aquatic research, with emphasis placed on research promise, scientific merit, and academic achievement. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of Jacqueline Chapman and thank her for her continuous efforts to advance aquatic research,” AFS President Steve L. McMullin. Jacqueline Chapman is a PhD candidate investigating the interactions between catch-and-and release fisheries and disease in migrating salmonids across Canada. She is interested in how individual variations in microbe loads can predict the severity of fisheries impacts, and whether or not changes in gene expression associated with immune function, senescence, and regulations influences these interactions. In addition to her PhD work, she conducts research in the Arctic, and is working with the Inuit community on issues related to food security and commercial fisheries development. She is currently the President of the Student Subunit of the AFS Ontario Chapter and has been highly involved with AFS for over 5 years. # # # Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

(Atlantic City, NJ) August 22, 2018 – Samantha Wilson received the J. Frances Allen Scholarship at the 2018 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFS President Steve L. McMullin presented the award at the meeting’s plenary session. This award is given annually to a female Society Member and doctoral candidate who is conducting aquatic research, with emphasis placed on research promise, scientific merit, and academic achievement. “We applaud the distinguished contributions of Samantha Wilson and thank her for her continuous efforts to advance aquatic research,” said AFS President Steve L. McMullin. Samantha Wilson is a PhD candidate in the Salmon Watershed’s lab at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. Her research will help better understand the impacts of climate change on early marine life stages of Pacific salmon. She is specifically investigating the sensitivity of juvenile salmon to climate-driven phenological mismatches and the implications of this on survival and abundance in the context of changing ocean conditions. Samantha has been involved in AFS for over 8 years and has served in numerous capacities ranging from volunteering at conferences, to serving on executive committees. She has sat on the executive committee for BC student subunit of the Washington-British Columbia chapter of AFS for four years and is currently in her second term as President. # # #   Editor’s Notes: Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.   General link: fisheries.org Link to AFS Annual Meeting: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org