Each year during the Annual Meeting, AFS welcomes a new president to lead the organization. In this episode, meet 2024-2025 AFS President Miguel Garcia Bermudez! Miguel shares his background and involvement in AFS, as well as what he's looking forward to during his presidency.

Episode guest: Miguel Garcia Bermudez

AFS Officers' Bios

Updates/links:

Best Student Presentations Webinar

Thursday, October 24, 2024

3 pm Eastern Time

Committee Volunteer Interest Form

Meet the 2024 Award of Excellence recipient, Francis Juanes in today's episode! Dr. Juanes talks about his current and future projects, as well as past involvement in AFS.

Guest:

Francis Juanes

Liber Ero Professor of Fisheries

University of Victoria

juanes@uvic.ca

Lab website: https://juaneslab.weebly.com/

FishSounds: https://fishsounds.net/index.js

Updates from AFS:

AFS photo album (2024 Annual Meeting and more): https://www.flickr.com/photos/americanfisheriessociety/albums

Best Student Papers webinar: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a599dcba-811b-4191-be87-fef5c9eec9a1@ea04981a-ce57-48f5-96aa-0b09f880fa48

It's time for a fisheries policy update! This week, AFS Policy Consultant, Drue Winters, shares updates from the Hill related to fisheries resources.

The World Fisheries Congress delayed us in posting this episode, but today we're back on track. This episode is the second in the two-part series featuring AFS Officer Candidates.

The 2024 AFS officer election will be held March 22-April 26. Today on AFS Beneath the Surface, get to know Second Vice President candidate, Marlis Douglas. 

Marlis shares her professional background and past involvement with AFS, as well as some ideas for the future.

Send questions, comments, and future podcast topics to membership@fisheries.org.

This episode is part one of a two-part series!

The 2024 AFS officer election will be held March 22-April 26. Today on AFS Beneath the Surface, get to know Second Vice President candidate, Lori Martin. 

Lori shares her professional background and past involvement with AFS, as well as some ideas for the future.

Send questions, comments, and future podcast topics to membership@fisheries.org.

Join us for a preview of the upcoming 2024 World Fisheries Congress! AFS is joined by Donna Parrish - World Council of Fisheries Societies President and Abigail Lynch - 2024 World Fisheries Congress Program-Co Chair.

Donna and Abby share some insight on bringing the WFC to the United States and some highlights of the Congress.

2024 World Fisheries Congress: https://wfc2024.fisheries.org/

American Fisheries Society: https://fisheries.org/

In this episode, we're visiting with 2023-2024 AFS President, Cecil Jennings. Cecil shares insight on his route to becoming an AFS officer and his current presidential plan of work.

The American Fisheries Society is excited to share the first episode of our new podcast! AFS Executive Director, Doug Austen, shares a preview of Society events in 2024. 

Events mentioned during the webinar:

2024 World Fisheries Congress

2024 AFS Annual Meeting

January 9 webinar - Standard Sampling Review

Registration

February 4 webinar - Freshwater Mussel Research - USGS

Registration

Today's episode features an conversation with Sara Cannon, a member of the Respectful Meetings Working Group. Sara shares updates on the Working Group's initiatives for the Honolulu meeting, as well as tips for being a respectful visitor to the Hawaiian Islands.

Sara Cannon is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries at the University of British Columbia.

Additional Resources:

Respectful Visitor Guide on the Annual Meeting website

Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA)

Send comments, questions, and future episode ideas to lmaza@fisheries.org.

This episode is a preview of the soon-to-be-published second edition of Standard Methods for Sampling North American Freshwater Fishes! Join book's editors to learn about the book's development, what's new in the Second Edition, and more.

Guests:

Scott Bonar

Norman Mercado-Silva

Kevin Pope

Erin Tracy

Standard Methods description:

Second updated edition of an important, popular reference book that provides standard sampling methods recommended by the American Fisheries Society for assessing and monitoring freshwater fishes in North America. Involves contributions from over 500 fisheries scientists from almost 200 agencies, universities, and nongovernmental organizations.

Preorders are being accepted now! https://fisheries.org/2024/05/now-accepting-bulk-pre-orders-for-standard-methods-for-sampling-book/

Today's episode features a conversation with Ben West, who has served as a consultant for AFS and other organizations in the fisheries and wildlife space, specifically for projects focused on strategic development, continuing education, and communication. The conversation highlights a recent professional development retreat hosted by AFS. This retreat focused on identifying challenges faced by professionals across fisheries & wildlife careers and began discussions to help solve these challenges.

Ben West is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the founder of Risora Consulting.

Note: Ben mentioned Drive by Daniel Pink; additional information about this book can be found at https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/.

Send podcast questions and suggestions to lmaza@fisheries.org.

AFS launched the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program in 2001, to stimulate interest in fisheries and aquatic sciences among underrepresented groups in the fisheries profession.

This episode featured Kathy Guindon, chair of the Hutton Program, for an introduction to the program, tips for Hutton mentors, and stories about past Hutton students.

Thank you to all Hutton Committee members and the Hutton application review team!

For more information: hutton.fisheries.org

Send questions and comments to Lauren Maza - lmaza@fisheries.org.

Today's guest, Tim Grabowski, joins us from Hawaii! We're talking about the Honolulu Annual Meeting, the AFS Pacific Islands Chapter, and Hawaii travel tips.

Tim Grabowski is the AFS Pacific Islands Chapter President and local chair for the 2024 Annual Meeting. Tim is the Unit Leader for the U.S. Geological Survey Hawai'i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.

Honolulu Annual Meeting: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/

Grabowski lab: https://www2.hawaii.edu/~tbg/people.html#

Questions? Email lmaza@fisheries.org

This week, we are meeting with Abigail Archer, the chair of the AFS Membership Committee, to talk a bit about the committee's mission and current projects.

Episode guest:

Abigail Archer, AFS Membership Committee Chair

Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension & Woods Hole Sea Grant

Link(s) mentioned in this episode: 2024 AFS Annual Meeting: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/

Send questions and future podcast ideas to:

Lauren Maza lmaza@fisheries.org

This episode is an introduction to the AFS Climate Ambassadors Program (CAP), which offers communication skills training focused on climate change. Join us for a conversation about the origin of the program, program structure/content, and other CAP and AFS related stories!

Episode Guests:

Julie Claussen

Fisheries Conservation Foundation

Climate Ambassadors Program Steering Committee

Leah Baumwell

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Climate Ambassadors Program 2021-2022 Cohort

Corinne Burns

Leading Solutions, LLC

Climate Ambassadors Program 2021-2022 Cohort

Emily Markowitz

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Climate Ambassadors Program 2021-2022 Cohort

Raquel Ruiz-Diaz

Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador

Climate Ambassadors Program 2023-2024 Cohort

Climate Ambassadors Program: https://climate.fisheries.org/

2024 AFS Annual Meeting: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/

AFS Staff Contacts: https://fisheries.org/about/meet-the-staff/

Even wonder how scientific meetings are planned? Today's episode is a short introduction to conference planning with AFS Meetings Director, Shawn Johnston and AFS Meeting Consultant/Contractor, Kerrell Dunsmore.

AFS Staff contacts: https://fisheries.org/about/meet-the-staff/

Webinar proposals

Today's episode features a preview of the first open access book to be published by AFS! Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes of Puerto Rico authors Gus Engman and Wes Neal recently stopped by the podcast to recap the book's development and the authors' history of freshwater research in Puerto Rico.

Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes of Puerto Rico

Authors: Thomas J. Kwak Augustin C. Engman Craig G. Lilyestrom J. Wesley Neal María de Lourdes Olmeda

Episode guests:

Gus Engman University of Tennessee

Wes Neal Mississippi State University

AFS is excited to announce the launch of Fishbook - a fisheries collaborate network! In this episode, we're visiting with Beth Beard, to learn about the Fishbook project and how to join this online community.

Episode guest: Beth Beard AFS Senior Communications Manager

Fishbook is now online at https://fishbook.fisheries.org!

Update: AFS Annual Meeting Early Bird Registration deadline: June 4, 2025

Questions, comments, and suggestions for future podcast guests: lmaza@fisheries.org

What is AFS's role in policy? And honestly, what is policy anyway? To answer these questions, we're going back to the beginning of the AFS policy program and chatting with the first (but now retired!) AFS Policy Director, Tom Bigford.

Episode Guest: Tom Bigford

Updates: Data & Technology Section webinar

January 28, 1 pm Eastern Time

2025 AFS Annual Meeting - Call for Sessions

Closes January 24th

Today we're continuing our tour of AFS sections - this time we're highlighting the Science Communication Section. Join Sci Comm Section president Kamden Glade, as he shares the section's history and how to get involved!

Episode Guest: Kamden Glade, Science Communication Section President

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Science Communication Section Social Media:

Instagram: @afs_scicomm

Twitter: @AFS_SciComm

Bluesky: @afs-scicomm.bsky.social

Have you ever asked what the term development means to non-profit organizations? Is it grant writing/management, relationship management, or fundraising? (or all of the above and more?)

AFS Development Manager, Jenna Hanks, is today's guest; she joins the podcast to help explain development at the American Fisheries Society.

Episode guest:

Jenna Hanks

AFS Development Manager

AFS Development - Additional Information

Updates:

Call for Submissions for symposia and continuing education courses for the 2025 Annual Meeting!

Membership Renewals

In today's episode, we're taking a deep dive into the AFS Education Section. Join us to learn more about this Section's current and upcoming projects!

Episode guest:

Martin Hamel

President, AFS Education Section

Associate Professor,  Fisheries Management & Ecology, University of Georgia

https://warnell.uga.edu/directory/people/martin-hamel

Updates

Giving Tuesday is December 3, 2024!

Upcoming Webinar hosted by the Fisheries Management Section

Conservation Milestone: Apache Trout Delisting

December 4th at 1:30 pm

The Call for Submissions for 2025 Annual meeting symposia and continuing education courses opens on December 6th.

Did you know that AFS has over 20 sections, which focus on specific interest areas within fisheries? In today's episode, we're providing an overview of the Fisheries Management Section (FMS). 

Episode guest: Julie Carter

President, AFS Fisheries Management Section

https://fms.fisheries.org/

Upcoming webinar:

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

November 19, 2024 2 pm Eastern Time

Register Now!

Have you ever wondered how the AFS Second Vice Presidential candidates are selected each year? With the AFS election completed for 2025, we thought it would be a good time to reflect back on the candidate selection process. This week's guest is Eric Fetherman, who just completed his term as the Chair of the AFS Nominating Committee. Eric helps explain the candidate recruitment and vetting process for the AFS elections.

Episode guest:

Eric Fetherman

2024-2025 AFS Nominating Committee Chair

Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Updates:

Fisheries Community Check-in

May 7, 3 pm Eastern Time

Join the session!

Webinar - Great Lakes

May 13, 2 pm Eastern Time

Register Now

Webinar suggestion form

In this episode, San Antonio local meeting chair, Shaun Donovan, joins the podcast to preview the 2025 Annual Meeting. Learn about conference sessions and events, San Antonio travel tips, and more!

Episode guest:

Shaun Donovan

San Antonio River Authority

Local Chair, 2025 AFS Annual Meeting

https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/

Interview recording date: April 2, 2025

2025 AFS Annual Meeting - abstract submission deadline:

Extended through April 22

2025 AFS Officer Election:

April 22 is the last date to vote! All members are encouraged to vote, via emailed instructions.

On today's episode, we're talking all about the AFS Awards program! Our guests are current AFS Awards Committee chairs - Jessica Mistak and Natalie Coash. Jess and Natalie stopped by to talk about current efforts to update to the awards program and this year’s schedule for announcing the 2025 award recipients. In addition, we spent a fair amount of time talking about how AFS committee leadership can positively impact career development.

Episode guests:

Natalie Coash

Missouri Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Unit

Jessica Mistak

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Updates:

Annual Meeting:

Abstract submission deadline: April 15 Registration is now open!

Upcoming Webinar:

Applied Genetics for Fisheries Management: April 16

AFS Election:

Now open through April 22, 2025 - members should vote via instructions sent through email

Comments or questions?

Email us at lmaza@fisheries.org

Join us for another stop on our tour of AFS Sections! In this episode, we're featuring the Student and Early Career Professionals Subsection of the Education Section. Hadley Boehm, the current president of the Subsection, joins Beneath the Surface to chat about the Subsection's projects, as well as the benefits of mentoring and getting involved with AFS.

Episode guest:

Hadley Boehm

President, Student and Early Career Professional Subsection

https://students.fisheries.org/

Email: hadley.boehm@state.mn.us

Updates and Deadlines:

2025 Awards nominations deadline: April 1

Spring webinars:

Applied Genetics for Fisheries Management: April 16

Annual Meeting:

Abstract submission deadline: April 15 Registration is now open!

AFS Election:

Now open through April 22, 2025 - members should vote via instructions sent through email

Interested in fisheries history? It's time to highlight another AFS Section - the Fisheries History Section! Section President Jeff Jolley joins the podcast to share updates on how this Section is working to reestablish itself and plan for the future. 

Episode Guest: Jeff Jolley

Updates and Deadlines:

2025 Awards nominations deadline: April 1

Spring webinars:

Indigenizing Salmon Science and Management: March 19

Applied Genetics for Fisheries Management: April 16

Annual Meeting:

Abstract submission deadline: April 15 Registration is now open!

AFS Election:

March 20 - April 22 - members will receive voting instructions via email

Part 2 of 2 in the Second Vice President Candidate series!

The 2025 AFS officer election will be held March 20-April 22. AFS members will receive information via email regarding how to vote.

Today on AFS Beneath the Surface, get to know Second Vice President candidate, Jeff Heindel. Jeff shares his professional background and past involvement with AFS, as well as some ideas for the future.

Send questions, comments, and future podcast topics to lmaza@fisheries.org.

Editor's note: I added a new feature this week - "chapter" markers, which should help separate the different sections of the audio file.

This episode is part one of a two-part series!

The 2025 AFS officer election will be held March 20-April 22. Today on AFS Beneath the Surface, get to know Second Vice President candidate, Brent Nichols. 

Brent stopped by Beneath the Surface to share his background and experience, so that AFS members and voters had a chance to "meet" him via this podcast episode.

Send questions, comments, and future podcast topics to lmaza@fisheries.org.

Black Bass 2025 will be held in August in San Antonio, in conjunction with the 2025 AFS Annual Meeting. Today's episode features Dave Philipp, one of the conference chairs, who stopped by recently to share a preview of this summer's conference.

Episode guest:

David Philipp, Fisheries Conservation Foundation

Conference inquires: BlackBass2025@fishconserve.org

Black Bass 2025

AFS Annual Meeting

Additional content may be added to this episode when more conference details become available!

Today's guest is Gary Whelan, 2025-2025 AFS President. Gary stopped by the podcast recent to share insights on his plan of work for the coming year and offer advice for students and early-career fisheries professionals.

Episode Guest:

Gary Whelan

gwhelan@fisheries.org

AFS Updates:

Webinar - November 19:

Science Communication Through Emotionally Charged Extreme Events

December Fisheries Community Check In

December 16 at 1 pm ET

In case you missed it - here are links to recordings of two recent online sessions!

Advancing the understanding, appreciation, conservation, and management of native nongame fishes in the United States - recorded on November 12

AFS Certification Online Application Review and Q&A - recorded on November 6

This week, we're making another stop on the tour of AFS Sections, and this time it's the Marine Fisheries Section (MFS). Susan Piacenza, the current president of the Section, stopped by the podcast recently to share updates about MFS activities - and to chat about her work with sea turtles!

Episode guest:

Susan Piacenza

Oregon State University

Marine Fisheries Section President

https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/susie-piacenza

susan.piacenza@oregonstate.edu

Marine Fisheries Section: https://mfs.fisheries.org/

AFS Updates and Links:

AFS Membership - renewals and new members

Upcoming online sessions include:

Fisheries Community Check In - October 14

Invasive Species Database Webinar - October 28

Higher-Level Thinking online course - October 30

AFS Certification - online application overview - November 5

Fisheries Community Check In - November 6

AFS is back with a new "Beneath the Surface" episode! This time, we're highlighting 2025 Excellence in Public Outreach honoree, David Shiffman. David shares insights on social media best practices and why sharks matter!

Episode guest:

David Shiffman

https://davidshiffmancv.com/

David.Shiffman@gmail.com

July 2025 Fisheries article:

https://academic.oup.com/fisheries/article/50/7/316/8107657

AFS Updates:

The AFS Sections roundup continues today with an introduction to the Invasive and Introduced Species Section! Today's guest is Nathan Lederman, the Section's current president. Join us to learn about this section's history and current projects. To learn more, join their business meeting at the AFS Annual Meeting next month!

Episode guest:

Nathan Lederman

nathaniel.lederman@wisconsin.gov

Learn more about the American Fisheries Society and our upcoming Annual Meeting!

Comments or suggestions? Submit via email to lmaza@fisheries.org

What's an ELMA? To find out more, I went to Drew Holloway and Patrick Cooney, who are both former participants in the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Awards (ELMA) program. Drew and Patrick are currently serving as the ELMA committee chairs, working to mentor the current class of ELMAs and passing on lessons to the incoming class.

Episode Guests:

Patrick Cooney Drew Holloway

Emerging Leaders Mentorship Awards

Updates:

San Antonio Annual Meeting registration-the early bird deadline has been extended through July 8

July webinar- Meeting Planning: A deep dive