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POLICY

Last Chance for Recovering America's Wildlife Act in this Congress

We are in the final sprint to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Congress will return to Washington on November 14 following the elections and this Congress will wrap up in mid-December. This is our last chance to get the bill across the finish line and secure dedicated, proactive funding for states and tribes to keep fish and wildlife from sliding into extinction. We have come so far with your help - join us in this final mile. Sign this petition today calling for the Senate to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act NOW and make plans to attend a virtual rally on November 15 (details coming soon!).

SCIENCE

A Life History Study of Atlantic Wolffish Resolves Bias and Imprecision in Length- and Age-at-Maturity Schedules by Recognizing Abortive Maturation

Life history research is so basic in fisheries science it is all too often taken for granted. This paper shows best practices of fish aging and gonad histology that are rigorous and revealing. It is also demonstrates how working cooperatively with the fishing industry and with other scientific partners can resolve data deficiencies in sample size, fish size, and seasonal and geographic coverage. Abortive maturation is an energetic process becoming recognized in fishes. This study shows how this process confounded accurate and precise estimates of Atlantic Wolffish size- and age-at-maturity, which are commonly used when evaluating stock assessment reference points.

Effects of Altered Stock Assessment Frequency on the Management of a Large Coastal Shark

Reduced stock assessment frequency did not negatively impact management performance of the Sandbar Shark. Effects were minimal with assessment interim periods of up to 15 years. The authors present a stock synthesis-based management strategy evaluation developed for the Sandbar Shark in the southeast United States. Uncertainty in unmanaged Mexican removals were accounted for in multiple implementation models.

FISHERIES

Effectiveness of Harvest Regulation Evaluations in Freshwater Systems

Fisheries professionals often assume that specialized harvest regulations will have specific effects on target fish populations, but these predictions are not always realized because theory and practice do not always match (literature indicates that predictions are not met in about half of the cases). To identify trends that can improve the future success of harvest regulations, the authors of this paper reviewed a representative sample of harvest regulation evaluations for inland sport fish.

Emergence of Regional Policies for River Herring

Anadromous Alewives Alosa pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis, collectively known as “river herring,” provide ecosystem services to coastal communities in the Eastern United States. Despite traditions of community-based stewardship, many populations exhibit long-term declines. Their name notwithstanding, river herring spend most of their lives at sea and stray among natal rivers. Therefore, absence of management above individual rivers can compromise population viability, local conservation investments, and ecosystem services.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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AFS Membership Renewals for 2023 Now Open – Renew Today!

The American Fisheries Society appreciates your membership and asks you to renew your commitment for the coming year. We are dedicated to the development and professional growth of our members by helping you CONNECT, ADVANCE, and SAVE. Our extensive membership benefits – the tools, resources, programs and activities, not to mention a strong network of peers and colleagues, will provide help and guidance as you advance in your career and profession. To renew, simply log in to your AFS account and click on the “Renew Now” button to get started. For questions or assistance, contact the Membership Team at [email protected]. If you did not receive a renewal notice in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
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Join the Pacific Islands Chapter

AFS approved a new Pacific Islands (PI) Chapter and we are asking for your support. When you receive your membership renewal notice for 2023, please consider joining the Pacific Islands Chapter to help them get the new chapter launched with support from throughout AFS. To add the chapter to your dues subscriptions, simply click on “Modify Billing Options” after logging in to your account. The AFS Annual Meeting will be in Honolulu in September 2024 and the new PI Chapter will be a key part of organizing that event. We hope to support the PI Chapter as they reach out throughout the central Pacific and beyond to engage fisheries students, professionals and partners.

New Wind Energy and Fisheries Committee

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) continues to seek opportunities to expand and improve its communication with the fishing community on offshore wind energy activities. As such, BOEM has requested that the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) establish a new standing committee on offshore wind energy and fisheries. The committee will serve as an independent, credible forum to discuss the state of science and pressing concerns related to the intersection of offshore wind with fisheries. NASEM is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on this committee. Nominations are due by November 9, 2022: read more.

Comments Requested on U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan

The Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Council on Environmental Quality, on behalf of the interagency Ocean Policy Committee, request input from all interested parties to inform the development of a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) that will help guide and coordinate actions by the federal government and civil society to address ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes-based mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. The OCAP will summarize planned federal ocean-based climate action and the benefits of these actions, identify gaps in knowledge and application of knowledge to emerging ocean-climate issues, and recommend actions to advance the effectiveness of the nation's response to the impacts of climate change. The input received will be used to inform the development of the OCAP; comments are due by November 18: read more.

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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