News

Annual Meeting

Symposium Summary: Implementation of the San Joaquin River Settlement Agreement to Restore Chinook Salmon to the San Joaquin River, California

The session highlighted ongoing efforts and challenges faced by the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, a multi-agency, large scale, long-term restoration project in California to restore Chinook Salmon and other native fishes to the San Joaquin River and improve water delivery while reducing or avoiding impacts to water availability. Since the completion of Friant Dam... Read More

Symposium Summary: How Different Are Asian Masu Salmon Compared to Coho Salmon and Steelhead?

Masu or cherry salmon Oncorhynchus masou (and subspecies) are Asian endemic salmon native to Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Federation. The goal of our symposium was to summarize emerging knowledge on Masu Salmon, and draw comparisons to North American analogs, particularly Coho Salmon (O. kisutch). A number of speakers emphasized the diversity of life histories of Masu Salmon... Read More

Symposium Summary: The Habitat Science Needed for Effective Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM)

Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is a comprehensive approach to the management of fisheries sector living marine resources. Inclusive in EBFM is the requirement of managers to consider the complex interactions between fishes and their dependent habitats, and the effects of fishing upon habitat and fish stocks. The session began with an overview of NOAA Fisheries’... Read More

Symposium Summary: Genomics of Adaptation in Natural Populations

Sponsor: AFS Genetics Section Rapid advances in genomics are providing unprecedented opportunities to improve our understanding of the amount, distribution, and functional significance of genetic variation in natural populations. Analyses on a genomic scale are now commonplace, and complete genome sequences are increasingly available for many species. These advances have facilitated discovery of loci associated... Read More

Symposium Summary: For Species that Carry Dual Designations as Imperiled and Invasive: Can We Forge a Common Science Agenda across Regions, Authorities, and Agencies?

Scientists and administrators came together to open a national dialogue on the merit of forming a common agenda for addressing conservation and control of fish carrying dual designations as imperiled in their native range and invasive beyond. Presentations and rich discussion validated the need to establish fiscal and scientific efficiency in addressing both conservation and... Read More

Symposium Summary: Fishing Blind: Building a Case for the Development and Communication of Species-Specific Guidelines for Catch and Release

The Fishing Blind Symposium brought together 20 researchers and a packed audience to present and discuss the need for improved communication of recreational species-specific catch-and-release best practices. The full-day session focused on the status of species- and situation-specific catch-and-release practices in both well-established and emerging recreational fisheries around the world, angler understanding and adoption of... Read More

Symposium Summary: Ecology and Reproductive Biology of Hagfish

Hagfish belong to one of the most primitive classes of fish in the world, Agnatha. Although there is lots of information on the primitive nature of their physiology and biochemistry, little information exists about their reproductive biology and ecology. Two species along the west coast of North America, Pacific Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) and Black Hagfish... Read More

Symposium Summary: Developments in Low-cost Side-Scan Sonar Applications in Aquatic Research and Conservation

This year marked the 10th anniversary of recreational side-scan sonar—an inexpensive tool for imaging underwater environments in striking detail. The low cost of equipment, and the ability to process and overlay image data in a geographic information system (GIS) has led to groundbreaking developments in mapping, monitoring, and research of aquatic denizens. Through this original... Read More

Symposium Summary: Crossing the Divide: Promoting Cross-Disciplinary Discussion between Inland and Marine Fisheries for Improved Sustainability

While marine and inland fisheries are often studied and managed independently, there are actually many similarities. Recognizing and communicating the reasons for the similarities and differences between marine and inland fisheries can generate useful insights towards improving the management and sustainability of both fisheries. The presentations in this symposium highlighted science and management lessons that... Read More

Symposium Summary: Communication and Engagement in Fisheries Management: Working with Stakeholders to Achieve Sustainable Fisheries and Healthy Ecosystems

Science communication, in the form of outreach and engagement, is a frequently suggested approach for achieving fisheries conservation and human well-being goals. Communication is a dynamic process of sending, receiving, interpreting, and clarifying, and can support a variety of outcomes. This symposium emphasized the importance of goal setting and evaluation planning for communication initiatives that... Read More