News

Annual Meeting

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

October 19, 2015

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

October 19, 2015

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

October 19, 2015

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

Symposium Summary: The Columbia River Treaty – Past, Present, and Future

October 19, 2015

The United States and Canada implemented the Columbia River Treaty in 1964, focused on coordinated flood control and hydropower benefits for both countries from the construction and operation of Mica, Keenleyside, and Duncan dams in Canada and Libby Dam in the United States. The U.S. Entity (Bonneville Power Administration and Corps of Engineers), states, tribes,... Read More

Symposium Summary: Barrier Removal in the 21st Century: Context, Generalities, and Potential Trade-Offs

October 19, 2015

Communities are working together to remove barriers and bring back fish, from the Penobscot to the Elwha to the Salmon River. Dams fundamentally fracture the natural connectivity of rivers, blocking natural movements of fish and sediment. There are over 2 million dams in the United States, and 80% of them are more than 50 years... Read More

Symposium Summary: Balancing Conservation and Utilization to Sustain Fisheries

October 19, 2015

Sponsor: The American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists (AIFRB) Building on a long series of sponsored symposia, the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists (AIFRB) convened a thought provoking symposium in Portland. This year’s topic focused on the need to balance conservation and utilization to achieve sustainable fisheries. The symposium started with the results of... Read More

Symposium Summary: What's New with Western Native Trout?

October 19, 2015

Sponsor: Western Native Trout Initiative “What’s New with Western Native Trout” was a one-and-a-half-day symposium, sponsored by the Western Native Trout Initiative (westernnativetrout.org), that focused on recent conservation and management actions benefitting western native trout through partnerships and cooperative efforts that result in improved species status, improved aquatic habitats, and improved recreational opportunities for anglers.... Read More

Symposium Summary: Sustainable Fisheries through Cross-Sectoral Collaboration

October 19, 2015

Following the historic global inland fisheries conference organized by Michigan State University and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation earlier this year in Rome, Italy, this symposium sought to highlight key findings from the conference and address important issues that arose through conference discussions. Symposium topics covered the conference’s four themes: biological... Read More

Symposium Summary: Managing Data to Meet Shrinking Budgets and Growing Needs

October 19, 2015

Sponsors: Fisheries Information and Technology Section, Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers, Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership Symposium This symposium featured more than 20 speakers, beginning with Doug Austen, AFS executive director, and concluding with an excellent panel and group discussion focused on the necessity of creating data products that are high quality and... Read More

Symposium Summary: Managing Challenges and Conflicts with the Wise Use of Fish Hatcheries and Traditional Production Objectives

October 19, 2015

Sponsor: Fish Culture Section This symposium, sponsored by the Fish Culture Section, included 25 presentations discussing ways fish hatcheries are improving or advancing their fish culture practices to meet ever more diverse, stringent, and complicated goals for the fish they produce. Hatchery-reared fish have traditionally been used to supplement sport fish populations and produce food,... Read More