ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Thursday, August 16, 2018) Fisheries scientists and professionals from around the country and around the world will gather in Atlantic City, NJ from August 19-23 for the annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). With its theme “Communicating the Science of Fisheries Conservation to Diverse Audiences,” the meeting will feature hundreds of presentations on the latest advances in fisheries research and conservation, addressing impacts to New Jersey, the region, and beyond.
 
“The good health of coastal and inland ecosystems is critical to states like New Jersey. At our meeting in Atlantic City, AFS scientists will be addressing issues like offshore wind energy impacts, effective fisheries management, habitat restoration, climate impacts, microplastic impacts, new technologies, aquaculture regulation, extreme event impacts, and fisheries legislation,” said Steve McMullin, president of the American Fisheries Society. “This is a tremendous opportunity for experts in the field to share what they are learning and build their knowledge, which benefits science and, of course, the ecosystem.”

The AFS conference and associated trade show will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center and will feature keynote addresses by renowned fisheries scientists and leaders. Hundreds of scientific abstracts have been submitted for presentation at dozens of symposia featuring key topics and emerging issues in fisheries science. Some 2,000 are expected to attend the conference this year.

Plenary speakers will include: Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator of NOAA Fisheries; Mamie Parker, the first African-American to serve as a USFWS regional director and the head of the nation’s inland fisheries program; Bonnie McCay, Ph.D., Rutgers University, retired professor of human dimensions of environmental issues and policy; and Christine O’Connell, Ph.D., an expert in the field of science communication, policy, and engagement at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University.

“This event gives us a chance to share fisheries science, management and policy with our peers in a vibrant city like Atlantic City,” said Jeff Brust, local chair of the AFS conference. "With the ocean and inland waters at our doorstep, the city is ideally situated as a gathering place for both coastal and inland fisheries professionals. We are excited to host experts from around the world as they come and share their knowledge with us, while at the same time allowing us to share Atlantic City with them."
 

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Editor’s Notes:
Visit the conference website (AFSannualmeeting.fisheries.org) or download APP (“AFSAnnualMeetings”) for more information and follow the conference on Facebook (@AmericanFisheriesSociety) and Twitter (@AmFisheriesSoc) for the latest news and details on registration and events.
 
Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. AFS membership is mostly drawn from the scientific community but also includes fisheries professionals such as managers, administrators, educators and consultants. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With five journals and numerous books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world.

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