Future of Fisheries: Perspectives for Emerging Professionals

Go Forth and Tell Them What You Have to Say!

Kelsey Schlee and Stan Moberly

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874387.ch46

About a year or so ago, during one of our chats, Stan was giving me (Kelsey) a rundown of the status of fisheries science today, what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong, trying to give me some perspective on the strengths of our profession, as well as the challenges I might face throughout my career. After we had spent some time focusing on what was going well, marveling at the advancements that have been made since the beginning of his career, his tone suddenly changed. Throwing his hands up in dismay, he said, “You know what, Kels? Our new technologies, models, and theories are all well and good, but one thing people in our line of work still don’t always realize is that you can’t just chuck your science on the public’s doorstep and run, expecting them to know exactly what you wanted to say and how to use the information! We really must make a stronger effort to communicate or risk being misunderstood and limiting the progress we can make toward our goals!”