Mid-Canada Chapter

Joint Meeting of West Virginia and Ohio Chapters

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:12:55 +0000

The West Virginia and Ohio Chapters of the American Fisheries Society are pleased to announce a Joint Meeting 19–21 February 2013 at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. The meeting, titled “Partnering Today for Challenges Tomorrow”, will feature approximately 30 technical podium presentations with an additional set of poster presentations. Additionally, we’re pleased to have two expert plenary speakers, Duane Chapman, Research Fisheries Biologist at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, who will detail his experiences with silver and bighead carp, and Tom Bridgeman, Associate Professor at the University of Toledo, who will give an overview of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. We also have scheduled three workshops from which you may pick up a new skill including: harmful algal bloom identification, ichthyoplankton identification, and acoustic applications in fisheries. To facilitate your attendance, the WVAFS Chapter set up a web page for registrations that you can link from their website (http://sdafs.org/wvafs/). Registration fees are $55 for chapter members and $75 for non-members. Workshop fees are $25/$35 for members/non-members, respectively.

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Careers in Biology Presentation at the University of Alberta

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:54:01 +0000

This past spring, MCC President Tom Boag visited the University of Alberta to meet with undergraduate and graduate students interested in ecology and biological sciences. Over thirty students attended his presentation on Careers in Biology. His visit was hosted by the University of Alberta Wildlife Society.

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Great Plains Fishery Workers Association Annual Meeting Second Call for Presenters

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:15:41 +0000

The 62nd annual workshop of the Great Plains Fishery Workers Association is scheduled for the 4th to 6th of February, 2013 at the Club Regent Casino Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Abstracts for presentations are due by December 31, 2012. Please send them by email to Todd.Schwartz@DFO-MPO.GC.CA

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Letter from Canadian Society For Ecology and Evolution to Minster for Fisheries and Ocenas Canada re: changes to Fisheries Act

Tom — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:15:04 +0000

19 March 2012
The Honourable Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6
Dear Minister Ashfield,
I am writing in my capacity as President of the Canadian Society For Ecology and Evolution (CSEE). The 1000-strong membership of the non-partisan CSEE includes ecologists and evolutionary biologists from across Canada.
The concerns expressed here are made on behalf of the CSEE. They are informed, in part, by the responsibilities I exercised as Chair of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC; 2006-2010) and as Chair of the 2012 Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel Report entitled Sustaining Canada’s Marine Biodiversity: Responding to the Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Fisheries, and Aquaculture.
The CSEE has very grave concerns regarding the Government of Canada’s proposed changes to Section 35(1) of the Fisheries Act. Specifically:
1. The CSEE is concerned that the proposed changes were not informed by a full and appropriate consideration of the best available science;
2. The CSEE is concerned that the proposed changes will prevent Canada from fulfilling it national and international commitments to sustain biodiversity; and
3. The CSEE is concerned that the proposed changes will prevent Canada from fulfilling its legislated responsibilities under the Species at Risk Act.
Each of these concerns is elaborated upon briefly below.
Firstly, there is no evidence to suggest that the proposed revision to the Fisheries Act was based on an appropriate level of consultation with, and advice received
2
from, DFO’s Science Sector. According to the DFO website, “science is the basis for sound decision making. DFO Science Sector provides information on the consequences of management and policy options, and the likelihood of achieving policy objectives under alternative management strategies and tactics.”
DFO’s website further notes that the incorporation of science in decision making is provided through a rigorous peer review process built on the Government of Canada’s Framework for Science and Technology Advice: Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Use of Science and Technology Advice in Government Decision Making which states:
“Science advice has an important role to play by contributing to
government decisions that serve Canada’s strategic interests and
concerns in areas such as public health and safety, food safety,
environmental protection, sustainable development, innovation, and
national security.”
Based on the assumption that your decision was not made in violation of departmental or government policy, the proposed revisions to Section 35(1) of the Fisheries Act must have been informed by advice received by DFO’s Science Sector. In the interests of transparency and accountability, and in the interests of Canadian society, we respectfully request that the science advice received in this regard be made publicly available without delay.
Secondly, the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act will be considered an abrogation of Canada’s global ocean and freshwater stewardship responsibilities.
The CSEE notes the conclusion by the Royal Society of Canada’s Expert Panel that “Canada has fallen well short of the progress made by most developed nations in fulfilling national and international commitments to sustain marine biodiversity” and that “many targets and obligations to conserve and to sustainably use biodiversity have not been met by Canada”.
The proposed changes to the Fisheries Act will severely impair Canada’s ability to protect species and their habitat and will, thus, further reduce the likelihood that Canada will fulfil its national and international biodiversity commitments.
Thirdly, it is well-established in the scientific literature, and articulated in Canadian government policy and statute, that the protection of species habitat constitutes the most effective means of ensuring that species do not become extinct. The Species at Risk Act (SARA), for example, acknowledges that “the habitat of species at risk is key to their conservation”.
The proposed elimination of existing habitat protection provisions in the Fisheries Act will severely impair Canada’s ability to fulfil its legislated obligations under SARA to prevent the extinction of aquatic wildlife species.
3
In the interests of all sectors of Canadian society, we request that you withdraw the proposed revisions and maintain the current wording of Section 35(1) of the Fisheries Act.
Yours sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Hutchings
President, Canadian Society For Ecology and Evolution
Professor, Department of Biology, Dalhou

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ACCESS TO GREY LITERATURE

Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:46:38 +0000

Dear AFS member: The peer-reviewed fisheries scientific literature is abundant and AFS publishes a significant portion of it. In recent years, AFS, through its Fisheries InfoBase, has provided access to published peer-reviewed literature going back to 1872. What has been missing is access to the so-called “gray literature”–publications of government agencies (state/province, federal, international) and other organizations that is usually not included in the journal or book literature. And yet that information is not only pertinent but often of high quality and wide utility.

To address that gap in the information spectrum, AFS is launching its Fisheries Reports, a searchable database of abstracts, authors, and links related to these reports. If you are the author of such a report or know about it, please consider submitting it to Fisheries Reports, either directly (see instructions in attachment) or through the moderator at farasha@farashaeuker.com.

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RIVER DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS UNDER ICE

Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:22:50 +0000

February 21 – 23, 2012
Edmonton, Alberta
North American Stream Hydrographers (NASH) and Canadian Water Resources Association (CRWA) are hosting a workshop on the use of hydro-acoustic velocity meters and profilers for conducting river discharge measurements under ice conditions. The workshop will be held in Edmonton, Alberta between February 21-23, 2012. Content will be field oriented focusing on obtaining measurements using a variety of instruments including the Sontek FlowTracker, Ott ADC, ADCPs (Sontek and TRDI), and the standard Price current meter. Procedures for conducting field measurements will be presented followed by one field day of measurements. The workshop will conclude with a review of the results and lessons learned over the course of the event.
Attendees should have some familiarity with river discharge measurement procedures. A basic understanding of hydro-acoustic technologies would be an asset. The workshop is targeted at hydrometric practitioners from government, private sector, academia, manufacturers and suppliers wanting a better understanding of winter flow measurement techniques. Every attempt will be made to tailor the content of the workshop to meet the needs of the attendees. The registration fee is $300 and attendance will be restricted to 30 participants. Contact Carol Lett for details: email Carol.Lett@ec.gc.ca
Each participant will be responsible for their own expenses (travel, meals and accommodations) and proper field attire for conducting outdoor work in cold weather conditions.
Agenda
Tuesday Feb 21

LOCATION: University of Alberta
1:00 pm – Welcome
- Measurement Overview
- Hydro-acoustic Applications
2:30 pm – Break
3:00 pm – Under Ice Measurement Systems
- Shallow Water Measurements
- Deep Water Measurements
- Safety Working on Ice
4:00 pm – Summary and Logistics
5:00 pm – End of day. Wednesday February 22

LOCATION: To Be Announced
8:00 am – OHS and Logistics.
8:30 am – Travel to measurement section
9:30 am – 4:00pm – Conduct measurements
4:00 pm – Review of Day/Logistics
5:00 pm – End of Day Thursday February 23

LOCATION University of Alberta
8:00 am – Compilation of results
8:30 am – Procedure and Data Review
10:00am – Break
10:30 am – Lessons Learned
12:00 am – Wrap Up

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2012 AFS Distinguished Service Award

Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:21:37 +0000

AFS is also seeking nominations for the 2012 Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes outstanding contributions of time and energy for special projects or activities by AFS members. The number of recipients may vary. A single member, a group of members, and AFS staff are eligible candidates. Nominations should include description of the outstanding contributions by the candidate(s) and may be submitted electronically via email or as hard copy delivered by mail.

Please canvas your respective Unit membership and encourage them to develop and submit nominations by the January 31, 2012 deadline. Details for the Distinguished Service Award and information on other AFS awards are available at http://www.fisheries.org/afs/awards/awards_call. You can also contact Gail Goldberg, AFS awards coordinator, at ggoldberg@fisheries.org, or 301-897-8616 X 201 for more information about the Society’s awards.

Nominations should include the candidate’s name, full contact information, biographical information and/or history of the nominee’s service (not to exceed 3 pages) to the Society. Letters supporting the nomination are welcome. Nominations and any supporting letters may be sent electronically via email or as hard copy delivered by mail, or fax (email, in PDF format preferred).

Nomination deadline: January 31, 2012

Contact: John Boreman, Committee Chair

John Boreman, President-Elect
23 Covington Lane
Durham, NC 27712-8967
TEL: (919) 768-7198
Email: jboreman@nc.rr.com

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AFS Meritous Service Award

Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:19:20 +0000

The AFS is fortunate to have members that deserve to be recognized for their considerable contributions. Please canvas your respective Unit membership and encourage them to develop and submit nominations by the May 11, 2012 deadline. Details for the Meritorious Service Award and information on other AFS awards are available at http://www.fisheries.org/afs/awards/awards_call. You can also contact Gail Goldberg, AFS awards coordinator, at ggoldberg@fisheries.org, or 301-897-8616 X 201 for more information about the Society’s awards.

Contact: Bob Curry, Committee Chair
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Division of Inland Fisheries
1721 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Phone: (919) 707-0221
Fax: (919) 707-0028
robert.curry@ncwildlife.org

AFS MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WINNERS

1986: Robert F. Hutton 1987: Mercer H. Patriarche
1988: Elwood A. Seaman 1989: Reeve M. Bailey
1990: Carl R. Sullivan 1991: Arden J. Trandahl
1992: Mary R. Frye 1993: Kenneth Carlander
1994: C. Richard Robins 1995: Christine M. Moffitt
1996: Nick C. Parker 1997: Gerald R. Bouck
1998: Lee C. Redmond 1999: John G. Boreman, Jr.
2000: Billy J. Higginbotham 2001: Dick Ryder
2002: Larry Olmsted 2003: John Ney
2004: Carolyn A. Griswold 2005: Stan Moberly
2006: Christopher Goddard 2007: Paul J. Wingate
2008: Roger A. Rulifson 2009: Joe Margraf
2010: Fred A. Harris 2011: David W. Willis
2012: TBD

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AFS Fenske Award Announcement

Tom — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:21:01 +0000

2011 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award for Outstanding Students December 5, 7:00 – 8:15 AM Des Moines Marriott Downtown, Des Moines IA 50309 The North Central Division, Iowa Chapter, and Michigan Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and the Iowa and Michigan chapters of The Wildlife Society, in cooperation with the Steering Committee for the 2011 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, are pleased to accept applications from students for the Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award. Up to 25 outstanding students majoring in fisheries or wildlife management will be selected, formally recognized for their achievements, and invited to attend an exclusive breakfast held during the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in honor of the late Jan Fenske. The breakfast will provide a unique opportunity for students to meet and closely network with many fish and wildlife leaders from around the region. Undergraduate and graduate students who plan to attend the Conference are encouraged to apply. Student finalists will be selected based on academic ability and scholarly achievements. Two of the student finalists, one majoring in fisheries management and one majoring in wildlife management, will be presented with a Fenske Memorial Award that includes a scholarship of $500. The two winners of the Fenske Memorial Award will be selected based on the characteristics that made Jan a remarkable fisheries biologist, including enthusiasm to protect fisheries and wildlife resources through management activities, selflessness and motivation to teach others, interest in professional involvement, and integrity, positive attitude, and compassion. To apply, please submit a resume including your GPA, two letters of recommendation from academic advisors or professionals in fisheries or wildlife management, and a cover letter including future career goals and reasons for attending the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference to: Mark Tonello Mark Tonello, Fisheries Management Biologist Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, Michigan DNR 8015 Mackinaw Trail Cadillac, MI 49601 (231)775-9727 ext. 6071 (231) 775-9671 FAX Email: tonellom@michigan.gov Deadline for submission is October 30th. E-mail submissions are preferred, although mail or fax submittals will be accepted. Student applicants selected as finalists will be notified by November 20th.

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2011 Excom

Tom — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:11:04 +0000

The AFS Mid-Canada Chapter is pleased to announce the executive committee (excom) for 2011 to 2012:

President: Tom Boag, Applied Aquatic Research Ltd., Calgary, AB
Email: president@midcanadaafs.org

Vice-president: Jessica Reilly, Golder Associates Ltd., Edmonton, AB
Email: vp@midcanadaafs.org

Past-president: Cam Stevens, Golder Associates Ltd., Edmonton, AB
Email: past-pres@midcanadaafs.org

Secretary-Treasurer: Margaret Docker, University of MB, Winnipeg, MB
Email: sec-treas@midcanadaafs.org

Communications Officer: Patrick Nelson, North-South Consultants Inc., Winnipeg, MB
Email: news@midcanadaafs.org

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