Challenges for Diadromous Fishes in a Dynamic Global Environment

Introduction

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874080.fmatter

In 1983, members and associates of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) Northeastern Division began organizing an independent, international symposium on diadromous fishes. Their efforts resulted in the 1986 symposium Common Strategies of Anadromous and Catadromous Fishes, held in Boston, Massachusetts. The landmark symposium was one of the first scientific meetings to focus exclusively on diadromous fishes, uniquely from both a biological and management standpoint. The proceedings from that meeting comprised the highly successful American Fisheries Society’s Symposium 1, a legacy publication that continues to be a highly desired source of information on diadromous fish biology and ecology. Common Strategies also brought together a diverse group of researchers, managers, and students from worldwide geographic locations. The attendees found commonality in their questions and problems, fostered new collaborations and information sharing, and (in a good way) conceived a couple of controversies. Many of those associations are still vibrant and productive today, and for many students (of whom I was then one), Common Strategies opened doors for investigation and career development at a global level that would not have been available otherwise.