Recent Briefings

Mythbusting Marine Aquaculture
—with NOAA

June 6, 2019, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

Capitol Hill Ocean Week presented an opportunity for AFS to bring congressional staffers and environmental organizations together for “Mythbusting Marine Aquaculture,” a science-focused briefing in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center on June 6.  The briefing featured five experts in various aquaculture disciplines to highlight the advances in science, technology, and best management practices that have reduced the environmental footprint and increased the sustainability of marine aquaculture. See the video recording of the similar webinar.

Waters of the US
—with the National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, and the Society for Freshwater Science

April 4, 2019, Dirksen Senate Office Building

The American Fisheries Society and partners organized a science briefing on efforts underway to roll back Clean Water Act protections for our nation’s streams and wetlands. The newly released Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS) proposes to eliminate protections for all ephemeral streams and wetlands that do not have a surface connection to navigable waters, and opens the door to removing protections for intermittent streams. A number of development activities could move forward in these waters without federal safeguards.

Capitol Hill Briefing Highlights Wildlife Crisis and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
—with the National Wildlife Federation and The Wildlife Society

June 21, 2018, Rayburn House Office Building

The American Fisheries Society, The Wildlife Society, and the National Wildlife Federation hosted a Congressional briefing on the status of U.S. fish and wildlife, along with a new funding mechanism that could address the current wildlife crisis. The event focused on a recently released report, Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis. The event was hosted by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who opened the briefing. She introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R.-Neb.) last year. Read more…

AFS and USGS Host Capitol Hill Roundtable on Extreme Events
−with the U.S. Geological Survey

April 12, 2018, Russell Senate Office Building

On April 12, AFS and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hosted a roundtable discussion with congressional staff on impacts on inland fish from extreme weather events like hurricanes, flood, drought, and forest fires. USGS scientists cautioned that as these extreme events increase in frequency and severity they will have significant ecological consequences for inland fisheries and social implications for communities that rely on recreational fishing as an important economic driver. Read more…

Advances in Geospatial Tools to Enhance Smart Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
– with the U.S. Forest Service

June 10th, 2016, Rayburn House Office Building
The briefing was co-hosted by Congressman Mike Simpson (2^nd District of Idaho) and Congressman Derek Kilmer (6^th District of Washington), and featured speakers from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Trout Unlimited. Read more…

Climate Change and Inland Fisheries
– with the U.S. Geological Survey

June 13th, 2016, Russell Senate Office Building
The briefing featured speakers from the U.S. Geological Survey, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Pittsburg State University. Read more…