The Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC) of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) will meet from November 19-21 at the Hyatt Place in Dewey Beach, DE. One of six geographic chapters within the Northeastern Division of the AFS, the mission of the chapter is to fulfill the parent society’s objectives within the Mid-Atlantic Region:
– Promote the conservation, development, and wise use of the fisheries
– Promote and evaluate the development and advancement of fisheries science and practice
– Gather and disseminate scientific, technical, and other information about fisheries science and practice
– Encourage the teaching of fisheries science and practice in regional colleges and universities and the continuing education and development of fisheries professionals.
Dr. Dana Christensen, a researcher from Stockton University in New Jersey will be speaking at the meeting this year and has been asked to serve as the keynote speaker, “since the theme is about strengthening the relationships between researchers, management, and industry stakeholder groups,” she noted.
“The annual AFS meeting is a unique collaboration event,” Dr. Christensen noted, while adding “I will be presenting at the event (about the Saltwater Angler Survey) along with many other fisheries related researchers.”
The event is free for stakeholders, until slots filled, and this year’s theme – “From Research to Reels: Enhancing Collaboration in Fisheries Management” -highlights the critical roles that cooperation and trust play in bridging gaps and uniting diverse voices.
Dr. Christensen’s research focuses on analyzing large-scale datasets to address complex problems in biology, ecology, and marine science. She has a strong interest in developing and expanding long-term environmental monitoring datasets and citizen science initiatives to support sustainability. At the 2023 and 2024 MAC-AFS Annual Meetings, Dr. Christensen presented her progress on her saltwater angler survey research.
At this year’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter meeting, Dr. Christensen will provide another update on what she has learned about anglers’ perceptions, knowledge, trust, and preferences through the lens of collaboration. This angler survey research inspired the theme of this year’s meeting.
For more information about the event go to mid-atlantic.fisheries.org.
