Category: Symposia

Description: Fisheries scientists are often successful in “MacGyvering” innovative solutions to a question or problem. They do this by inventing, building, or repurposing technology or analytical tools, especially when resources or tools are limited or absent. Over time, these innovative solutions created important breakthroughs and broadened research capabilities in our field.

Supported by: American Fisheries Society Data and Technology Section

Session Organizers: Chelsea Myles-mcburney, Florida Fish and Wildlife; Jennifer Moran, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Tiffany Hopper, Texas Parks and Wildlife; Patrick Cooney, Smith-Root

Session Contact: Chelsea Myles-mcburney, [email protected]

Description: Hatchery programs are pursued for fisheries enhancement, conservation, and climate adaptation. This session aims to explore challenges and opportunities for adaptive management and reform of hatchery programs from ecological, technical, social and governance angles.

Supported by: Mote Eminent Scholar Program, Florida Sea Grant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Session Organizers: Kai Lorenzen, University of Florida; Edward Camp, University Of Florida; Jennifer Gumm, USFWS; Hannah Harrison, Dalhousie University; Seth White, Oregon State University

Session Contact: Kai Lorenzen, [email protected]

Description: Chemical tagging techniques and structures for ecological analyses have progressed rapidly in the past decade, with novel techniques providing a greater understanding into fish life history. This session aims to highlight the most recent use of tagging structures, techniques, and applications for elemental and isotopic ecology.

Supported by: AFS Estuaries Section (Justin Stevens, President, [email protected])

Session Organizers: Michael Curtis, University of North Texas; Benjamin Walther, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi; John Mohan, University of New England; Alfonsina Eugenia Romo Curiel, UTMSI; Zacchaeus Compson, University of North Texas

Session Contact: Michael Curtis, [email protected]

Description: This session will review recent advances in release mortality and depredation research in marine fisheries, focusing on barotrauma in vulnerable species in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and elsewhere. A panel discussion will inform Return ‘Em Right’s data priorities for 2026 and beyond, relevant to fisheries researchers and managers.

Supported by: AFS Cooperative Research with Stakeholders Section

Session Organizer: Lee Benaka, NOAA Fisheries Service

Session Contact: Lee Benaka, [email protected]

Description: We invite researchers to present novel angler survey research using emerging methodologies in creel and human dimensions studies. Topics include AI, remote sensing, electronic reporting, and innovative self-reporting techniques. This session will inform the development of a modern Angler Survey Methods manual to enhance fisheries management and survey standardization.

Supported by: Angler Survey Committee (ASC)

Session Organizers: David Smith, Louisiana State University; Abigail Lynch, U.S. Geological Survey, National Climate Adaptation Science Center; Rebecca Krogman, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Paul Venturelli, Ball State University; Michael Lant, University of North Dakota, Department of Biology; Kevin Pope, USGS CRU

Session Contact: David Smith, [email protected]

Description: This symposium will cover various acoustic sonar technologies, particularly recent advancements and applications that have enhanced efficiency for use in fisheries management. Furthermore, research that directly addresses key challenges associated with sonar data post-processing, such as efficient data processing pipelines, image processing algorithms, and artificial intelligence applications, are encouraged.

Supported by: U.S. Geological Survey

Session Organizers: Josey Ridgway, US Geological Survey; David Kazyak, U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center; Robin Calfee, Columbia Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia, MO 65201; Jesse Fischer, USGS; Adam Kaeser, USFWS; Cameron Bodine, University of Delaware

Session Contact: Josey Ridgway, [email protected]

Description: Cooperative research is defined as a scientific activity involving two or more partners who gain more collectively than each would separately in pursuing a shared goal. However, issues such as data quality, standardization and validation, trust and communication, data ownership/access must be addressed. Commonalities and best practices will be identified.

Supported by: AFS Cooperative Research with Stakeholders Section

Session Organizers: Mark Chandler, NOAA

Session Contact: Mark Chandler, [email protected]

Description: Trophic markers like stable isotopes, fatty acid signatures, and algal pigments are invaluable for studying food web dynamics. This session will highlight their application in aquatic environments, fostering discussions on advancements in methodology and insights into trophic structure, energy flow, and ecosystem management at spatial and temporal scales.

Session Organizers: Jacques Rinchard, SUNY Brockport; Matthew Futia, University of Vermont

Session Contact: Jacques Rinchard, [email protected]

Description: This symposium intends to highlight genetics or genomics research in fisheries applications and to promote discussion on relevant questions about evolutionary and ecological aspects of either freshwater or marine organisms. However, given AFS location this year, submissions of research carried out in the SW of USA are encouraged.

Session Organizers: Guilherme Caeiro-Dias, University of New Mexico; Shawn Narum, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

Session Contact: Guilherme Caeiro-Dias, [email protected]

Description: We invite abstract submissions on the biological impacts of invasive bigheaded carp control, current management practices, and its successes and/or failures. The session will end with a discussion panel on how to address knowledge gaps and improve inter-agency collaboration and management of invasive bigheaded carp in the future.

Supported by: Southern Illinois University, World Wildlife Fund

Session Organizers: Joseph Mruzek, Southern IL Univ Carbondale Center for Fish Aqua & Auqatic Sci; Tanya Fendler, Southern Illinois University; Peng Chen, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Yixuan Feng, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale; James Garvey, Southern Illinois University; Julia Kernik, World Wildlife Fund; Emily Moberg, World Wildlife Fund

Session Contact: Tanya Fendler, [email protected]