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PUBLICATIONS

AFS Journal Impact Factor Increases

We are excited to announce some impressive increases in AFS publication Impact Factors from 2020 to 2021! We thank our editors, reviewers, and staff for all of their hard work, as well as all of authors who placed their confidence in us that their science would reach the right audiences.
  • Transactions of the American Fisheries Society: 1.861→ 2.200
  • North American Journal of Aquaculture: 1.717 → 1.977
  • North American Journal of Fisheries Management: 1.436 → 1.696
  • Journal of Aquatic Animal Health:
    1.625 → 2.925
  • Marine and Coastal Fisheries:
    1.568 → 2.206
  • Fisheries: 2.939 → 3.539

POLICY

Recovering America's Wildlife Act Nears Senate Vote

We're close to passing this historic conservation bill - we already have House approval and now just need to get through the Senate! Contact your senators now using an easily customizable form and ask them to support this legislation that will provide states and tribes with the dedicated funding they need to conserve at-risk fish and other aquatic species.

Marine Aquaculture Congressional Briefing

On July 13, AFS and NOAA Fisheries hosted an online Congressional briefing on marine aquaculture. The briefing included speakers from around the world discussing how advances in science and technology have enabled thriving, environmentally sound, and sustainable marine aquaculture industries. A stable regulatory framework with strong environmental safeguards, combined with the use of best practices, research, and innovation, can guide the U.S. towards a more sustainable future for fisheries.

Spokane Policy Symposium & Snake River Dam Panel

Interested in learning more about how fisheries professionals can make an impact on critical policy issues? Join us for a one-day symposium on Monday, August 22 in Spokane featuring:
  • Panel discussion on Snake River dam removal
  • Update from AFS Policy Director Drue Winters on the Recovering America's Wildlife Act
  • Policy and science communication hands-on learning session
  • And more!

SCIENCE

Paradigm Shift: Applying Capture–Recapture Techniques to Electronic Licensing System Data to Estimate Chinook Salmon Harvest

This innovative hybrid approach utilizes the efficiencies of the self-reporting ELS program with the flexibility of simplified traditional creel interviews. These two independent data sets allow for the application of capture–recapture techniques to estimate population specific recreational salmon harvests. After developing statistical methods, the authors apply them to fall Chinook Salmon fisheries managed under the Pacific Salmon Treaty, illustrating that the new methods produce more precise harvest estimates than traditional creel surveys at a much lower cost.

Ghost Fishing by Abandoned Trotlines in a Simulated and Actual Reservoir

This first-of-its-kind paper tests how abandoned, lost, or discarded trotlines (a passive gear used for centuries throughout the world both in fresh and marine waters) can ghost fish. Ghost fishing is a hot topic in marine environments that focuses on abandoned, lost or discarded nets and traps. This paper answers an age-old question - if abandoned trotlines catch fish and if so, for how long?

FISHERIES

Toward Improved Understanding of Streamflow Effects on Freshwater Fishes

Understanding the effects of hydrology on fish populations is essential to managing for native fish conservation. However, despite decades of research illustrating streamflow influences on fish habitat, reproduction, and survival, biologists remain challenged when tasked with predicting how fish populations will respond to changes in flow regimes. This uncertainty stems from insufficient understanding of the context-dependent mechanisms underlying fish responses to, for example, periods of reduced flow or altered frequency of high-flow events.

Gender Bias in Letters of Recommendation

Women enter many scientific fields at similar rates as men, but hold fewer leadership positions comparatively, a phenomenon commonly referred to as a “leaky pipeline.” Letters of recommendation likely play a role in this disparity given their widespread use in evaluating applicants for jobs, graduate school, awards, and faculty appointments. Research in medicine, geosciences, and psychology has identified consistent bias in letters of recommendation written for men when compared to those for women.

ANNUAL MEETING

Spokane Hotel Reservations

The Doubletree Hotel is now sold out but there are still rooms available at special conference rates at the Davenport Grand Hotel, which is also connected to the convention center and is affiliated with the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program. Book your room by July 28.

Climate Communications Training Track

Extreme weather, rising sea levels and water temperatures, droughts, and fires - climate change impacts fisheries in myriad ways. How can you effectively communicate these impacts to stakeholders and policymakers? Join us for a special training track in climate communications which includes online sessions before and after the Spokane Annual Meeting, along with workshops and symposia onsite in Spokane. Registration includes in-person meeting registration for Spokane. A limited number of scholarships are available for individuals from underrepresented groups

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hutton Funding Challenge

Montana State University hosted 22 Hutton scholars this week at the Second Annual Hutton Summit. Hutton scholars toured MSU facilities, heard from speakers about fisheries careers and how to get started as fisheries professionals, and even went out into the field.

This year, the Hutton Program is launching the 3rd Annual Hutton Funding Challenge. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for the Hutton Program between June 16th to August 11th. This would allow us to fund an additional student next summer!
marine sanctuary stamps

Our Stamp of Approval

Congratulations to Fisheries magazine Managing Editor Peter Turcik, whose photo of the Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary was recently featured on a U.S. postage stamp! You can watch Peter's interview with a local Baltimore television station and purchase the stamps online. Be sure to congratulate Peter if you see him out and about with his camera in Spokane!

We Want to Hear from You!

We are up to more than 1,000 survey responses from both members and non-members - help us get 1,500! AFS is asking both member and non-members to take a brief survey – it will only take 10-15-minutes of your time to share your thoughts and opinions about your membership and how AFS can better serve you, the membership at large, and the fisheries science profession. Your feedback is important to us and will help guide AFS leadership and staff making strategic decisions about current and future programs. As a thank you for your participation, all respondents can enter a drawing for your choice of a free AFS book or a $50 Amazon gift card using a separate Google form.

RESOURCES

EVENTS: See upcoming AFS and other fisheries events in our Events Calendar
CAREERS: For the latest JOBS postings from around the U.S. and Canada
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