Future of Fisheries: Perspectives for Emerging Professionals

Leading for Conservation Success

Hannibal Bolton and Cecilia Lewis

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874387.ch50

When I (H. Bolton) started my career as a fisheries biologist, the world of fisheries management was straightforward—one either worked for a federal agency or one worked for a state agency. I chose to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and my job was to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Forty years later, I am still doing what I love. At the start of my career, success seemed simple. All I needed to succeed was my passion, technical skills, and hard work. I have since learned that successfully doing my job requires more than just my desire and commitment to save the world. Over the course of 40 years, I have learned a few lessons that have helped me grow and successfully lead others through various resource management challenges, lessons that, I believe, federal and state agency leadership must adopt and embody to remain relevant and successfully navigate the conservation challenges society will face in the 21st century.