Marine life of Kealakekua Bay 17425 - credit HTA - Heather Goodman

154th Annual Meeting

Honolulu, Hawai'i | September 15-19, 2024

Register Submit abstract

154th Annual Meeting

Honolulu, Hawai'i | September 15-19, 2024

Register Submit abstract

Afternoon shadows on Leahi aka Diamond Head - Vincent Lim

154th Annual Meeting

Honolulu, Hawai'i | September 15-19, 2024

Register Submit abstract

The American Fisheries Society (AFS), President Cecil Jennings, the AFS Western Division, and AFS Pacific Islands Chapter are excited to host the 154^th AFS Annual Meeting, September 15-19, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The theme “Conserving Fishes and Fishing Traditions through Knowledge Co-Production” will stimulate a wide range of sessions focusing on the past, present, and future of fisheries conservation and management as we bring together professionals from across North America, the Pacific Islands, and countries throughout the world. The Honolulu Program Committee invites proposals for symposia, workshop/continuing education courses, and innovative sessions that support the theme and look to advance the fisheries profession.

Abstract submission has been extended until May 3.

Conference Timeline

Session Submission Opens

Session Submission Closes

Abstract Submission Opens

Registration Opens

Abstract Submission Closes

Early Registration Deadline

Conference Begins

December 2023

February 23, 2024

March 25, 2024

April 2024

May 3, 2024

July 19, 2024

September 15, 2024

Welcome to Hawaiʻi:
A Guide to Being a Respectful Visitor

Aloha! As attendees of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, we must honor and respect the rich culture of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) and the natural beauty of these islands. One aspect of our mission as the Respectful Meetings Working Group is to guide AFS meeting attendees to be respectful visitors, ensuring that our presence contributes positively to the local community and environment.

Explore Nearby Lodging Options

Whether you prioritize proximity to the convention center, beachfront access, great restaurants, or just a relaxed vibe, we have the perfect hotel for you at a great rate.

Maui Nui Strong

We at AFS are deeply saddened and concerned about the recent devastating wildfires on the island of Maui. If you would like to help, please see Maui Nui Strong for more information about how to contribute to Maui Wildfire Relief.

Sessions

What’s New? Standard Methods for Sampling North American Freshwater Fishes, 2nd Edition

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

The ability to compare data over time and space; via standard sampling, indices and comparison methods; has revolutionized inland fisheries science, contributing to baseline knowledge of fish populations and ecology, their conservation and management, and fisheries education. Conversely, inability to compare such data has hampered fisheries planning, trend monitoring, and

Transparent, Open Incorporation of Co-produced Knowledge into Fisheries Population Models

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

This session concerns the specific methods to incorporate co-produced knowledge into scientific models of fishery population dynamics. These efforts are often integrated within an “open-science” framework to facilitate transparency and participation, so we especially encourage presentations that include this sub-theme. This session will include breakout sessions, a panel discussion with

Creative Communications To Raise Awareness and Appreciation for All The Fish

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

This symposium is inspired by the continued need to raise awareness about and appreciation for all the fish. Since people act on behalf of what they care about, we are hosting this session to congregate and celebrate creative and novel communication and public engagement approaches that are: changing perceptions about

Do the DNA, and Communicate It with a K.I.S.S.

Innovative Session / Not accepting abstracts

Genomics research generates relevant insights for sustainable fisheries management and conservation strategies. But geneticists often fail to clearly explain why such complex approaches matter, and how genomic data can be applied. This session aims to bridge this gap by fostering dynamic discussions on the art of communicating ‘Doing the DNA.’

Celebrating Indigenous Fisheries Stewardship

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Globally, Indigenous communities, including Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians), have practiced sustainable stewardship in their territories, exemplified by successful, high-yield fisheries predating European contact. Employing culturally informed stewardship practices, Indigenous Peoples developed deep, place-based ecological knowledge that is crucial for flourishing aquatic ecosystems. Despite the effectiveness of this stewardship, assimilative and

Animal Movement Models on Aquatic Landscapes: Climate Challenges and Solutions

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Recently, there have been numerous publications of animal movement and migration models which span the gamut of cognitive behavior models to statistical approaches dealing with either a single species, or the entire trophic web, layered on underlying physical models ranging from high-resolution computational fluid dynamics models of small domains to

Fish as Ecological Indicators of Restoration Success

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Anthropogenic changes to estuarine habitats have given rise to restoration projects all over the world. Whether the changes in an estuary are negative due to habitat degradation or positive due to successful restoration efforts, they inevitably affect inhabiting fish communities. These communities are the focal point for many stakeholders, and

Climate, Collaboration, & Community: Cascading Effects and Pathways Forward

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Coastal communities are at the frontlines of climate change. These communities sit at the confluence of climate-driven coastal hazards, ecological changes, and underlying social and economic vulnerabilities. Given the pace and scope of expected climate effects, there is a pressing need for strong collaborative research to understand, plan for, and

The Future of the Western Division of AFS – Research Throughout the West

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

This symposium will highlight the research being conducted within each of the Chapters throughout the Western Division. Organizer: Laurie Earley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Western Division AFS, [email protected] Supported by: Western Division AFS

Catch the Wave: Building Foundations for Success in Fisheries Careers

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

In collaboration with the Student & Early Career Professionals Subsection of The Education Section of The American Fisheries Society, our symposium focuses on empowering early career professionals (ECPs) in fisheries. Seasoned fisheries professionals will present on vital skills like effective communication, adaptability, leadership, and resilience, essential for ECPs to thrive

Reshaping Research and Centering Indigenous Communities in Fisheries Management

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

As we continue to grapple with environmental, aquatic, and social challenges, we invite scholars to join us in a session that seeks to identify solutions and strategies to improve the health of our fisheries and fisheries dependent communities for future generations. We invite speakers to share their experiences and methodologies

Advances in Quantitative Fisheries Science

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Understanding the life processes of aquatic organisms and their responses to changes in their environment presents numerous challenges to fisheries science and the management of fish populations. Advances in quantitative methods are needed to transmute information from data into knowledge and infer the biological, ecological, environmental, and anthropogenic processes that

Fish Habitat Partnerships – Local, Regional, and National Collaboration to Conserve Aquatic Habitats

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Fish Habitat Partnerships bring together diverse groups of public and private partners as well as local communities, to conserve fish habitats. Fish Habitat Partnerships support local and regional efforts to strategically plan and implement aquatic habitat conservation programs, contribute technical and financial support for conservation projects, support regional assessments of

Evaluating Climate Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Fisheries and Fishing Communities

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

There is a critical need to better understand and anticipate changing climate and ocean conditions and how fish, fisheries and fishing communities can best adapt. Integrated modeling systems that tie together climate models, oceanographic models, ecosystem models and human dimension models are a promising tool to evaluate options and strategies

Advances in Shark Deterrent Technologies to Reduce Bycatch in Fisheries

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

There are few fisheries that do not catch sharks accidentally. Estimates suggest millions of sharks are caught as bycatch each year worldwide, consequently hampering population rebuilding plans. Bycatch represents a global problem that demands local solutions. The shark repellent industry has grown substantially in the 21st century. For example, earlier

Tools and Approaches for Developing Community-Led Coastal Fisheries Management Actions

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

In coastal fisheries, the design, development, and implementation of fishery management actions can be challenging. Each unique fishery setting has diverse characteristics – such as existing management frameworks, cultural connections and traditional practices, and degree of stakeholder engagement – that influence the process of engaging community members in setting up

Emerging Challenges and Solutions in Marine Recreational and Non-Commercial Fisheries

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Recreational and non-commercial hook and line fishing is a cornerstone for many coastal communities with an estimated 12.7 million participants in the United States of America in 2022. Non-commercial fishing, as defined in federal regulations, includes, but is not limited to, sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous and recreational fishing. As coastal

Enhancing Fisheries Management and Conservation through Spatial Data and Data Accessibility

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Fisheries management and conservation decision making is inherently spatial in nature, however use of spatial data in decision making is often hampered by a lack of data accessibility, visualization, and compatibility both within and among state and federal agencies, academia, and conservation organizations. Improving data availability, visibility, and compatibility with

Advancing Sonar Techniques for Use in Research and Fisheries Management

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

This symposium will focus on the various types of acoustic sonar technologies, novel applications, and recent advancements that have enhanced efficiency. Presentations will be dedicated to discussing new techniques that will allow fishery biologists to conduct noninvasive surveys and effectively sample large volumes of water with minimal disturbance. We will

Fishery-independent Surveys: Maximizing Capabilities and Adapting to a Changing World

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Indices derived from fishery-independent survey data are crucial inputs to stock assessments that are used to provide fishery management advice. Demands on fishery-independent surveys have increased as the climate changes, industries evolve, assessments increasingly incorporate ecosystem data, and competing ocean uses introduce operational challenges. Resources for conducting surveys have frequently

Advanced Technologies for Fisheries Monitoring and Integration with Cultural Practices

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

The effects of fishing pressure, habitat loss and alterations, and climate change on fish populations can negatively impact fishing communities, coastal economies, culturally important resources, and world food supplies. In general, fisheries monitoring is a time-consuming manual process involving large data sets prone to human error. State and federal agencies

Collaborative Science through Fisher-Researcher Partnerships

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Fishers have a wealth of knowledge and experience from the time spent on and under the water. Fisheries science is often enhanced by including the fishing community in data collection and research. It is important to continue to empower and equip fishers with tools and opportunities to participate in the

Electronic Tagging and Telemetry: Analyses, Field Methods, and Applications to Management

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

The goal of this symposium is to showcase recent advancements in electronic tagging technology and its practice – from data collection and field methods to analysis and integration into conservation and management decisions, as well as novel applications that bridge disciplines. Talks showcasing the use of electronic tagging in fisheries-adjacent

Versatile Rotenone: Managing Fisheries, Recovering Species, and Eliminating AIS

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Fish management in North America has long relied on the rotenone. Despite being one of the most versatile, well-studied, safe, cost-effective, and valuable tools available, challenges remain. Regulatory agencies continue to question rotenone’s safety, while the public is often misinformed and leery of the need for rotenone. More work is

Spawning Splendor: Exploring Fish Aggregations in Tomorrow’s Seas

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Working with fish spawning aggregations (FSAs)? Come join this interactive session to learn what has been learned from FSA studies in the past, what remains to be learned, and what tools we need to accomplish this. In this session we ask participants to give rapid (2 minute) presentations related to

Snake River Dam Removal: AFS Policy Program In Action

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

In the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River basin dominates the landscape The Snake River, the main tributary of the Columbia River, was once free flowing and teeming with salmon and steelhead. Today, only 1-2% of the historic numbers of wild fish return to the Snake River. Calls to remove the

Views on Undergraduate Curriculum in Fisheries

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Recent reviews suggest that undergraduate curricula in fisheries programs will need to adapt to produce students with the knowledge, competencies, and skills needed to promote management, conservation, and sustainability of fisheries resources through the work of state, federal, provincial and tribal agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. Undergraduate curricula are

Lessons in Fish Reproduction for Sustainable Fisheries: Learning from Multiple Knowledge Sources

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Achieving sustainable fisheries requires operational methods of monitoring and multiple ways of understanding fish reproductive potential in light of climate dynamics and a variety of anthropogenic factors. This session will showcase some of the challenges to assessing fish reproduction, what we have learned and how we can move forward to

Data-Driven, Community-Guided: The Future of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) considers interacting physical, biological, economic, and social processes within an ecosystem and aims to manage an integrated system that optimizes sustainable yields. EBFM is a more holistic management approach than single species management and may be particularly important in the face of climate change. Some

Amphidromous Post-larval Fisheries

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Amphidromous post-larval fisheries are unique and globally widespread. Despite this, they have remained largely unknown to fisheries science. Due to being data deficient, many amphidromous post-larval fisheries have been labelled as highly unsustainable regardless of whether that is the case. Furthermore, there is a wealth of traditional knowledge held by

Freshwater Mollusks of Ecological and Cultural Importance

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Freshwater mollusks (Classes Bivalvia and Gastropoda) are largely understudied and underserved but often have significant historical and cultural significance to indigenous groups and are recognized for their vital ecological services. Freshwater mollusks are declining at rates disproportionate to other organismal groups, but these declines are often due to unknown causes

Interweaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge with Genetic/Genomic Approaches for Fisheries Conservation and Management

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Effective fisheries management in the Anthropocene requires contributions from multiple knowledge sources, ways of knowing and perspectives. This session will showcase the transformative potential of interweaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and genomic data for fisheries management. TEK encompasses a collection of insights from diverse sources and perspectives, built on long

Communicating Climate Change Impacts: Hands-on Learning to Enhance Policy and Public Buy-in

Innovative Session / Not accepting abstracts

Climate change poses a major threat to fisheries around the world, but many fisheries managers/researchers lack the skills for effectively communicating this complex and controversial issue. It is critical for fisheries managers to successfully promote audience buy-in toward sustainable actions. In this symposium, fisheries and science communication professionals will demonstrate

Managing Fisheries Bycatch of Threatened Species

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Fisheries targeting highly productive species can have profound impacts on co-occurring species also susceptible to capture that have long generation lengths, low fecundity and other life history traits that make them vulnerable to anthropogenic mortality. There has been increasing concern over the sustainability of bycatch mortality of marine megafauna given

Inclusive Outreach and Education for Inspiring the Next Generation

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

The demographic makeup of the existing workforce is the legacy of hundreds of years of oppression, exclusion, and continued implicit reinforcement. Increasing diversity will not happen passively, but requires identifying and dismantling barriers in the system and transforming how we recruit and retain the next generation of fisheries scientists. This

Championing Underdogs: Managing Imperiled Species Despite Political and Social Challenges

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Marine species around the globe face an array of natural and anthropogenic stressors that reduce their long-term population viability. When these species have perceived value, typically accompanied by a positive public image, galvanizing social and political interest to protect and restore them faces little resistance. For species with less clearly

Mauka to Makai (Mountain to Sea) Connectivity in Changing Tropical Systems

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Tropical ecosystems are distinctive and have high species richness and high rates of endemism, featuring interconnected terrestrial, fluvial, and coastal systems in close proximity. Streams serve as vital links, connecting these systems and facilitating the movement of aquatic organisms. The reliance on connectivities and habitats among these diverse systems underscores

Northern Pike: From Fascinating to Formidable

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Depending on where you live, Northern Pike (Esox lucius) may be a protected native species beloved by anglers or a notorious invasive requiring extensive resources for suppression, eradication, and prevention. In the Columbia River Basin, non-native Northern Pike pose a great threat to extensive investments made to protect ESA-listed salmon

Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing for Fisheries Assessment & Management

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

This symposium explores the transformative impact of satellite remote sensing (RS) technology on fisheries assessment and management. Presentations showcase innovative applications of satellite RS in understanding fish populations, mapping habitats, and informing decision-making processes. Key topics include techniques for mapping fish habitats, monitoring population dynamics, and integrating satellite RS data

Coastal Systems in Flux: Fish and Fisheries in a Multi-stressor World

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Many coastal and estuarine ecosystems worldwide are becoming increasingly degraded. Several intertwining factors including warming, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, hypoxic events, ocean acidification, and habitat degradation and loss pose significant threats to the management and conservation of fish species. While the co-production of knowledge investigating these impacts by scientists, managers,

RespFest4: The Use of Respirometry as a Tool to Support Fisheries Conservation

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Improving our understanding of how metabolic rates are regulated by the environment in the context of fisheries conservation involves exploring how energy is allocated for growth, reproduction, and considering how individual traits affect metabolism in aquatic organisms. This session aims to bring together studies that use respirometry as a tool

Building Fisheries Science Partnerships between Fisheries Commissions and the U.S. Geological Survey

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Presentations in this symposium highlight ways fisheries commissions, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and their partners are working together on fisheries priorities in the Great Lakes and on U.S. Coasts, foster inter-regional learning, and explore whether inter-regional approaches to common challenges are feasible. Regionally based fisheries commissions play a unique

Party Wave Acoustic Telemetry: Fisheries Research through Collaboration and Knowledge Co-production

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Acoustic telemetry networks (nodes) are regional programs aimed at maximizing the research outcomes of electronic tracking studies by fostering collaboration and facilitating data-sharing among researchers. Data-sharing partnerships among regional nodes further expand the scale over which collaborations may occur, and the establishment of new nodes, along with growing membership within

Innovations in Remote Sensing Technologies for Fisheries Assessment and Management

Innovative Session / Not accepting abstracts

This innovative session will explore recent advancements in remote sensing technologies and their applications in fisheries management. From PIT tags and stream-based sensors to satellite imagery, innovative techniques are revolutionizing our ability to monitor fish populations, assess habitat conditions, and inform sustainable management strategies. Through lightning talks and interactive, small-group

Centering Fisher Questions and Collaboration in Research and Conservation

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Fishers and other resource users are often the target group when developing and implementing conservation and management actions but are not always involved in the research process. This exclusion, even if unintentional, can lead to distrust in scientific findings or a lack of support for conservation actions. Involving fishers from

The Future of Pacific Salmon

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Total commercial catches of Pacific salmon by all countries are at historic high levels yet there are ominous signs of a declining abundance. Total Pacific salmon catches by Canada in the past five years are annually less than 10% of the catches from 1970 to 2000. Total commercial catches of

Investing in Communities, Science, and Restoration – NOAA BIL and IRA Funding

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

NOAA Fisheries is working with scientists, tribal nations and other community members to restore habitats and fish species via Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) investments. At this session, tribal and community partners will share how their traditional knowledge and practices—together with the NOAA investments—help achieve their

Surveying 2.0 – Novel Methods for Data Collection in Recreational Fisheries

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Globally, recreational fishing is a socially and economically important activity but also affects fish stocks and aquatic environments. Therefore, robust recreational fisheries data are required to support sustainable management of fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems. Technological progress and digitization have led to the development of novel data collection methods such

Partnerships to Enable Environmental Innovation for the Clean Energy Transition

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Renewable energy is considered a necessity to reduce our world’s dependence on fossil fuels to mitigate climate change, however energy installations (both energy production facilities as well as distribution systems) come with unique challenges that impact aquatic ecosystems. Partnerships between various sectors of the community are essential to advancing goals

Toxic Waters: Investigating the Physiological Impacts of Pollutants on Aquatic Life

Symposium / Accepting abstracts

Our waterways are relentlessly affected by pollution throughout the year – from industrial waste to mining runoff to agricultural pollution and oil spills, all exacerbated by global warming. When toxins enter lakes, rivers, oceans, or groundwater, water quality and aquatic life suffers. Evaluating water quality is straightforward, but unraveling the

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