Category: Latest News

Recent updates about activities and accomplishments of SNEC members

AFS SNEC Diversity Equity & Inclusion Discussion July 21 at 2PM

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Please join us for the next AFS/NED SNEC DEI Discussion – Thursday, July 21 at 2PM
For the Zoom link please check your emails from the SNEC listserv, or email [email protected]

Topic: Unpaid Internships, Financial Disparity, and Barriers to Entry and Diversity in Marine and Fisheries Science
Discussion Facilitator: Owen Nichols, SNEC Past-President, and Director, Marine Fisheries Research at Center for Coastal Studies


Please listen to the podcast and read the resources below:

https://fisheriespodcast.podbean.com/e/di-podcast-ep-12-financial-disparity-in-fisheries-science/

https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsh.10312

Early-Career Scientists Face a Wall of Unpaid Positions

https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/71/7/757/6213241

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02758-8


Discussion Questions:

-If you’re comfortable sharing with the group, what is one thing you learned from these resources?
-What are some examples of paid internships and other early career opportunities that address financial disparity and diversity? 
-What can we learn from the above and apply to our own professional spaces? To SNEC/AFS activities?
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AFS SNEC DEI Monthly Discussion Group June 16 at 2PM Pride Month!

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Check the AFS SNEC Listserv emails for the Zoom link, or email [email protected]

June is Pride Month! This month is set aside to bring awareness of and celebrate the experiences of people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex. Please read and watch the resources below. The discussion on June 16 at 2PM will focus on the first 3 resources.

Discussion Questions

-If comfortable sharing with the group, what is one thing you learned from these resources?

-Based on the information in the first 2 articles and the video, what are some things that AFS SNEC can do to make in-person meetings and the Chapter as a whole more of a safe and welcoming space for folks who identify as LGBTQIA+?

-Are there efforts within your workplace to make that space more safe and welcoming for folks who identify as LGBTQIA+?

Reading and Watching Resources

  1. 3 Simple Steps to Create a More Inclusive Work Space for our LGBTQ+ Community
    https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fsh.10677

    https://snec.fisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Fisheries-2021-Miles-3-Simple-Steps-to-Create-a-More-Inclusive-Work-Space-for-Our-LGBTQ-Community.pdf
  2. Interview with Cassidy Miles for Flylords magazine. Outdoors is for Everyone by Dan Zazworsky
    https://flylordsmag.com/the-outdoors-is-for-everyone/

AFS Diversity Equity and Inclusion Day 2020 – Learn Portion Videos

3. Being an Out Queer Field Biologist: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7537077/video/456671555
Dr. Christopher Schmitt (Dr./He/Him/His) of Boston University’s Department of Anthropology and Biology

4. Pronouns & Gendered Language: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7537077
Lucas Johansen (He/Him/His) with the NOAA Pride Employee Resource Group

5. A Guide to Gender Identity Terms

6. White House Proclamation about Pride Month

How to purchase Outdoors is for Everyone merchandise
https://society6.com/product/diversity-and-inclusion-fish_bag?sku=s6-16538907p29a26v196

Read the SNEC Spring 2022 Newsletter!

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SNEC Newsletter

SNEC Newsletter 2022-04-19 SNEC Logo SNEC President’s Message Happy spring fellow fisheries folks! I hope this message finds you all healthy and well. As I look out my window and contemplate this message, I am inspired by the sights I can see that signal spring is upon us. The trees have buds, the daffodils are blooming and the male gold finches at my feeder are shedding their winter plumage for the brilliant yellow breeding colors that are getting brighter and brighter each day. It is a time of new beginnings. After another long and stressful winter surrounded by SARS-CoV2 we may hopefully be entering a phase where we can safely manage our interactions with people with less fear.

One sign of this potential shift towards normalcy is SNEC is planning its first in person meeting in over 2 years! The Summer 2022 Science Meeting is being held IN PERSON on June 21, 2022, at the URI Bay Campus. Abstract submissions are now open and you can submit your abstract here. Abstract submission will close on Friday, June 3 so please consider presenting. We will continue to closely monitor the developing regional and state medical news surrounding SARS-CoV2 and the various states’ responses to it in our region and will utilize that information to inform us should we need to adjust our conference planning. With our new spring beginning, field sampling for many of us has started or is starting, and we are getting to work closely with colleagues once again.

For me this has been a very busy spring as we try to play catch-up. Recently the inland fisheries group of the Connecticut DEEP Fisheries Division completed a relative abundance sample for northern pike on Bantam Lake is Litchfield/Morris, CT. We used only trap nets set in early March through early April to try to capture pre-spawn northern pike as they made their way to the spawning marshes around Bantam Lake. Though ice conditions hampered some of our sampling, we were able to catch some northern pike and we should be able to compare these recent catch results with historical catch results. This sampling is being done to assess a new stocking strategy at this lake. We have been purchasing and stocking 4-6 inch fingerling northern pike from a vendor in Minnesota for a few years to see if we can obtain a stable annual number of fingerlings for stocking to supplement our varied production from our own Connecticut managed spawning marshes. All of the stocking efforts will ensure that we can continue to provide Connecticut’s anglers with trophy northern pike fisheries. At the same time the inland fisheries group of the Connecticut DEEP Fisheries Division is performing a multi-gear population estimate (trap nets and nighttime boat electrofishing) on Mashapaug Lake in Union, CT. This sampling is being carried out to determine if our multi-year stocking strategy where we have been stocking larger (6-8 inch) walleye fingerlings, as opposed to our usual stocking strategy of smaller (4-6 inch) fingerlings, is going to pay off and create a more robust fishable population of Walleye in this lake. Water temperatures have just recently reached the point where we are starting to capture decent numbers of walleye with both gear types.

As you’ll see as you peruse this newsletter there are many other professionals in SNEC that are doing some interesting things; there are links to some great work on alewives, sand lance, green crabs, and right whales. In closing, I encourage everyone to enjoy the time they get to be out sampling with fellow colleagues this spring doing great science. Additionally, I would like to encourage you to take some time for yourself and your family. The outdoors has proven to be vitally important to people’s physical and especially mental health during the pandemic. Get outdoors and do something that energizes you. Something that fosters strong lasting memories with you, your family and your friends. I hope each of you are able to find such an outlet. Spring is a beautiful time of year. Best wishes as we move forward into 2022!
Chris McDowell President, Southern New England Chapter of AFS Chris McDowell


SNEC Reports Board of Directors Minutes from October 2021 Finance Committee 2021-Q4 and 2022-Q1

Announcements

Volunteer Opportunities

SNEC is looking for a Professionalism Chair. Please contact anyone on the Board of Directors if you are interested in learning more.

We need judges for the SNEC Student Travel Award. Please contact Syma Ebbin for more information. Are you a professional member attending the summer meeting? Please consider volunteering to be a judge for the Best Student Presentation awards. If you’re interested, contact Syma Ebbin.

DEI Discussion Group Invitation AFS SNEC holds a monthly discussion on topics related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the fields of fisheries science, management, and outreach. Everyone is welcome to attend. You can drop in for just one discussion, or tune in every month. You do not need to have any expertise in DEI topics in order to attend – you just need a desire to learn. The AFS SNEC DEI Discussions take place on the third Thursday of every month at 2PM via Zoom. Upcoming dates are May 19, June 16, and July 21. The Zoom link will be sent out via the AFS SNEC and AFS NED listservs. SNEC member Dr. Lian Guo started this discussion group in 2021 and wrote an article on Page 15 of the Spring 2021 Northeastern Division Newsletter describing the reasons for starting the effort.
Our meetings include:
-Reviewing resources that will help the American Fisheries Society to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive professional society Increasing our awareness of social inequities in fisheries
-Discussing our thoughts and brainstorming steps our chapter could take to address the issues presented Anyone can facilitate a monthly discussion and/or propose articles to read, videos to watch, or podcasts to listen to. If you’d like to facilitate but need help coming up with a discussion topic, we can help with that. To see past topics discussed and access the articles and podcasts that have been suggested, check out the DEI page on the SNEC website To learn more about AFS-wide DEI efforts, check out the AFS Equal Opportunities Section website and the AFS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee webpage

SNEC Summer Meeting 2022 June 21, 2022 URI Bay Campus, Narragansett, RI We are excited to announce we will be holding our Summer 2022 Science Meeting on June 21, at the URI Bay Campus, following our traditional meeting format. Abstract submission is OPEN!!! You can submit your abstract here – abstract submission will close on FRIDAY, JUNE 3. Stay tuned for registration info!!

Seventeenth Flatfish Biology Conference November 15-16, 2022 Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, Westbrook, CT FlatfishConferenceLogo

The Flatfish Biology Conference welcomes platform and poster presentations addressing any aspect of flatfish research (e.g., biology, ecology, aquaculture, stock assessment, physiology, etc.) from all regions. Professional and student flatfish researchers are invited to participate. For more information, please visit our website or contact any of the conference co-chairs: Steve Dwyer Elizabeth Fairchild Renee Mercaldo-Allen

NED and SNEC Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Meeting Call for Symposia Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Meeting January 8-10, 2023 Boston Hyatt Regency Mark your calendar for an exciting opportunity to network and learn about innovative fisheries research being conducted in the northeastern region of North America and beyond!

The Northeastern Division and Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society are hosting a joint meeting in Boston at the Boston Hyatt Regency from January 8th to 10th, 2023. The meeting will consist of a full day of workshops and two days of presentations, including keynote speakers and student awards. Three research talk sessions will run concurrently throughout the meeting, including a special session titled Diadromous Fishes: New Tools, New Findings, New Hope. The Program Committee invites proposals for symposia for both the general AFS/SNEC meeting and for the diadromous fish session. An organized symposium is a series of integrated presentations that address aspects of a common topic or theme. A symposium may consist of invited speakers or be opened to accept presentations from the general call for abstracts. The Program Committee also encourages organizers to submit creative proposals for innovative sessions that utilize novel designs, approaches, and formats. Such sessions might include lightning presentations, interactive activities, or creative interdisciplinary collaborations. All symposium proposals should be submitted via email to [email protected] by June 15th, 2022. Upon review, the Program Committee may request revisions or collaborations to reduce overlap in subject matter and strengthen individual sessions. Organizers will be notified of their acceptance by the beginning of August, with a call for abstracts in September. Please include the following information with each submission: Type: Symposium, innovative session Intended length: 1 2-hour block, half-day Title: Limited to 12 words Organizer(s): Name and contact information, submitting organizer is the point of contact Description: A brief session description that will be included in the program (150 words) Abstract: Abstracts will be limited to 350 words.

Member Submitted Content

Under Ocean Acidification, Embryos of a Key Forage Fish Struggle to Hatch Elaina Hancock described how a potential ripple effect from carbon in the atmosphere could have severe impacts throughout the ocean ecosystem in UConn Today. Read the full article here. This photo shows sand lance embryos that have and have not hatched. Sand lance have trouble hatching at future ocean CO2 levels (photo courtesy of Emma Cross).

Student Travel Award Reflections
Check out this slide deck to meet Sarah Weisberg and Colby Peters. Sarah and Colby were both recent recepients of SNEC travel stipends, which allowed them to travel to share their research with other fisheries professionals. Learn more about these two early-career scientists, their work, and what receiving the SNEC travel stipend meant to them. A big thanks goes out to our dues paying members who provide the financial support for these awards!

View Screening for documentary, Last of the Right Whales
Leah Baumwell has been involved with the documentary, Last of the Right Whales, as an impact campaign partner to help shape messages in the film and actions that the public can take after the film gets distributed more broadly. They are hosting a screening of the film in Portland, Maine on April 27th which includes a Q&A panel (fishermen, scientists, NGOs) that Leah will be moderating to help inform the audience. Leah encourages any members in the area to attend.

River Herring: Bringing the Ocean to New England’s Freshwater by Abigail Archer In December, Abigail Archer, Fisheries & Aquaculture Specialist with Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, gave an outreach talk as part of the Cape Cod Maritime Museum’s lecture series. The title is “River Herring: Bringing the Ocean to New England’s Freshwater” and can be viewed here CCMM logo

Long Island Sound Study Research Grant Program: Call for Preliminary Proposals Open
CLOSING DATE: June 6, 2022 Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG) and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) announce the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) extra-mural research program. The intent of this program is to fund research that will support the science-based management of Long Island Sound (LIS) and its resources, and the implementation of the LISS Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). Preliminary proposals are invited for the funding period of March 1, 2023 to February 28, 2025. Subject to available federal funding, up to $5,500,000 is expected to be available for one- or two-year projects. A copy of the complete RFP for 2023-2025 cycle can be accessed here. For more information, contact: Dr. Syma A. Ebbin, Research Coordinator Connecticut Sea Grant College Program University of Connecticut 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340-6048 Tel. (860) 405-9278, E-mail: [email protected]

Recently Published Research

Phenological Variation in Spring Migration Timing of Adult Alewife in Coastal Massachusetts Dalton, R.M., Sheppard, J.J., Finn, J.T., Jordaan, A. and Staudinger, M.D. (2022), Phenological Variation in Spring Migration Timing of Adult Alewife in Coastal Massachusetts. Mar Coast Fish, 14: e10198. https://doi.org/10.1002/mcf2.10198 The timing of biological events in plants and animals, such as migration and reproduction, is shifting due to climate change. Anadromous fishes are particularly susceptible to these shifts as they are subject to strong seasonal cycles when transitioning between marine and freshwater habitats to spawn. We used linear models to determine the extent of phenological shifts in adult Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus as they migrated from ocean to freshwater environments during spring to spawn at 12 sites along the northeastern USA. We also evaluated broadscale oceanic and atmospheric drivers that trigger their movements from offshore to inland habitats, including sea surface temperature, North Atlantic Oscillation index, and Gulf Stream index. Run timing metrics of initiation, median (an indicator of peak run timing), end, and duration were found to vary among sites. Although most sites showed negligible shifts towards earlier timing, statistically significant changes were detected in three systems. Overall, winter sea surface temperature, spring and fall transition dates, and annual run size were the strongest predictors of run initiation and median dates, while a combination of within-season and seasonal-lag effects influenced run end and duration timing. Disparate results observed across the 12 spawning runs suggest that regional environmental processes were not consistent drivers of phenology and local environmental and ecological conditions may be more important. Additional years of data to extend time series and monitoring of Alewife timing and movements in nearshore habitats may provide important information about staging behaviors just before adults transition between ocean and freshwater habitats. Read the full paper..

Seasonal Movements of Green Crabs Revealed by Acoustic Telemetry Zarrella-Smith, K.A., Woodall, J.N., Ryan, A., Furey, N.B., Goldstein, J.S. (2022), Seasonal estuarine movements of green crabs revealed by acoustic telemetry. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 681:129-143. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13927 Green crabs Carcinus maenas are considered among the most influential invasive species in temperate estuaries worldwide. Yet management can be hindered by the lack of high-resolution data on green crab movement ecology. We addressed this knowledge gap by coupling passive acoustic telemetry and water quality monitoring to examine daily and seasonal movements of individual green crabs in the Webhannet River Estuary (Maine, USA). We tracked 22 adult green crabs (mean [±SD] carapace width = 63.8 ± 6.5 mm) between 2 successive tagging deployments from July 2018-January 2019, with one receiver maintained until mid-April 2019. Overall, our study demonstrated the viability of using acoustic telemetry to assess seasonal movements of green crabs, with an average (±SE) individual detection rate of 27.9 ± 2.8 detections h-1 from July-January. Most crabs remained localized to very specific regions of the estuary, with each region representing a 300-600 m linear distance. Logistic regression models indicated that movements by green crabs to the downstream area were associated with a shift in temperature below 10°C, regardless of sex. From January-April 2019, 9 crabs were found to overwinter in the downstream area, potentially taking refuge in deeper waters. Movement patterns identified in this study further contribute to our understanding of the distances traveled and the areas used by green crabs, as well as further resolve overwintering behavior with consequences for mortality risk due to low temperatures. This additional knowledge of adult green crab movement and dispersal dynamics is valuable to resource managers considering intervention strategies. Read the full paper…

Angler Choices That Help Catch Lots of Big Fish Bade, A.P., Dippold, D.A., Schmidt, B.A., DuFour, M.R., Hartman, T.J. and Ludsin, S.A. (2022), Angler Choices That Help Catch Lots of Big Fish. Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10722 A primary goal of fisheries management is to maximize angler satisfaction (e.g., by catching more and bigger fish), while maintaining sustainable populations. In addition to environmental and ecological factors, angler choices may influence recreational catches. Using interviews (92,838) from Walleye Sander vitreus anglers in Lake Erie during 1989–2017, we identified how angler behavior influences catch outcomes. Angler behaviors were associated with changes in catch rate and the length of harvested fish. For example, trolling resulted in a 50% increase in median catch and a 24-mm increase in length, relative to casting. Other behaviors led to tradeoffs between catch rate and size, such as the time of year anglers fished. We identified behaviors that maximize fishing success with respect to anglers’ desired catch outcomes. Our results can help increase angler satisfaction by providing realistic catch expectations, given the environmental and fishery conditions, while improving recreational catch outcomes through more informed angler decision making. Read the full paper…

Update on the Spatial Distribution of Butterfish, 1982-2019 Adams, C. F. 2022. Update on the Spatial Distribution of Butterfish, 1982-2019. https://doi.org/10.25923/r0p0-ty08 This document updates a prior analysis of the spatial distribution of butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean with 6 additional years of Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl survey data. The primary findings are that there was a significant increase in area occupancy for all ages of butterfish over the spring time series, as well as a significant increase in area occupancy for age 0 butterfish in the fall, due in part to a range expansion into the Gulf of Maine. It is recommended that inclusion of the NEFSC spring bottom trawl survey data in the assessment model should be considered in the upcoming research track, as well as Gulf of Maine and outer Georges Bank strata. Read the full paper..

Serious Injury Determinations for Small Cetaceans and Pinnipeds Caught in Commercial Fisheries off the Northeast U.S. Coast, 2015-2019 Josephson, E. 2022. Serious Injury Determinations for Small Cetaceans and Pinnipeds Caught in Commercial Fisheries off the Northeast U.S. Coast 2015-2019. https://doi.org/10.25923/sgbq-m146 The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to estimate annual levels of human-caused mortality and serious injury to marine mammal stocks (section 117) and to categorize commercial fisheries based on their level of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals (section 118). Serious injury (SI) determinations were addressed at NMFS-convened workshops in 1997 and 2007 (Angliss and DeMaster 1998; Andersen et al. 2008), and in January 2012, the agency published new national guidelines for distinguishing serious from non-serious injuries of marine mammals (National Policy for Distinguishing…2012). A major goal of the new guidelines was to establish national consistency and transparency in SI determinations. To implement the new guidelines, Science Center SI determination (SID) staff are required to annually review the observer (OBS) and at-sea monitor (ASM) records on all incidentally caught marine mammals that were released alive. Determinations made on these fishery interactions are independently reviewed by another center’s SID (e.g., Northeast Fisheries Science Center [NEFSC] determinations are sent to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center [SWFSC], the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office [GARFO], and the Atlantic Scientific Review Group [ASRG] before final determinations are published in this document). Read the full paper…

Report of the Workshop: Optimizing the Research Intern Experience to Build Inclusion and Diversity in the Geosciences Workforce. Joyce, P., P. Chigbu, A. Jearld, H. Kite-Powell, G. Liles, and K. Chu. 2021. Report of the Workshop: Optimizing the Research Intern Experience to Build Inclusion and Diversity in the Geosciences Workforce. https://doi.org/10.25923/zhv5-6729 In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Partnership Education Program (PEP) in Woods Hole, MA, a workshop was held from June 27-29, 2019, to discuss ways to increase diversity and inclusion in the geosciences workforce. The Workshop brought together former interns, administrators of research internship programs, and directors of scientific organizations to share perspectives on how well current research internship programs are working and what can be done to make them more supportive and more effective in encouraging members of underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in the geosciences. The Workshop focused on two topics: (1) identifying potential roadblocks that discourage minority students from entering the geosciences and (2) identifying steps that can be taken to help students overcome those roadblocks. There are many such roadblocks, and not all of them can be solved by the research institution. However, there are often ways an institution can structure a research internship program so it is a more positive, inclusive experience. Read the full paper…

Serious Injury and Mortality Determinations for Baleen Whale Stocks along the Gulf of Mexico, United States East Coast, and Atlantic Canadian Provinces, 2015-2019 Henry, A. 2022. Serious Injury and Mortality Determinations for Baleen Whale Stocks along the Gulf of Mexico, United States East Coast, and Atlantic Canadian Provinces, 2015-2019. https://doi.org/10.25923/nfr5-7r84 Opportunistic reports were used to calculate rates of human-caused serious injury and mortality to baleen whale stocks along the Gulf of Mexico, United States east coast, and Atlantic Canadian provinces from 2015 through 2019. All available information for reported whale injury and mortality events was evaluated by using established criteria to assign injury severity and cause of injury or death for each event. The average annual rate of detected human-caused serious injury and mortality during the period was 7.65 for North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), 16.25 for Gulf of Maine humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), 1.85 for western North Atlantic fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), 10.35 for Canadian east coast minke whales (B. acutorostrata), 0.6 for Nova Scotian sei whales (B. borealis), and 0 for western North Atlantic blue whales (B. musculus) and northern Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales (B. edeni). The number of serious injuries and mortalities not reported is unknown, and actual levels may be much higher. Read the full paper…

SNEC exists to encourage exchange of information by members of the American Fisheries Society residing or working within Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

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AFS SNEC DEI Discussion April 21-2022

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Join the next SNEC DEI Discussion Group Discussion on April 21-2022 at 2PM.

Check the AFS SNEC Listserv emails for the Zoom link, or email [email protected]

Before the meeting, please read:

How Virtual Convenings Can Enhance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
https://diversity.nih.gov/blog/2022-02-24-how-virtual-convenings-can-enhance-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility

Links within the above article
Changing scientific meetings for the better
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01067-y

Conference demographics and footprint changed by virtual platforms
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00823-2

Virtual meetings promise to eliminate geographical and administrative barriers and increase accessibility, diversity and inclusivity
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-01176-z

Discussion Questions
• Many folks are pleased to see us moving toward more in-person gatherings. Before reading these articles, did the benefits of virtual meetings to DEI participants occur to you?
• What are some of the largest barriers to accessibility at in-person gatherings identified in these resources? What can SNEC do to further overcome some of these barriers?
• An author stated, “It is my hope that all scientific meetings will have a virtual option going forward to allow more participation than was the case pre-pandemic.” Is this realistic? Do you expect that the hybrid approach will stick around into the future?

AFS SNEC DEI Discussion – Readings for March 17

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Listen to the AFS DEI Podcast Episode 14: Inclusion can happen now and here’s how

https://fisheriespodcast.podbean.com/e/di-podcast-ep-14-inclusion-can-happen-now-and-here-s-how/

or, read some of the same content here:
https://fisheries.org/2022/01/what-does-inclusion-look-like/

Discussion Questions:
-What thoughts or examples came up for you as you listened to or read these resources?
-Think back to the first time you attended any type of AFS event. How did you feel?
-If you are comfortable sharing – give an example of a time when you wish someone stepped up to help you through a difficult social interaction that involved some type of bias?
-What can AFS SNEC and NED do to create a more inclusive environment in our in-person meetings and events?

AFS SNEC DEI Discussion – February 2022 readings

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The next AFS SNEC – Diversity Equity & Inclusion Discussion Group will take place tomorrow, Thursday 2-17-22 at 2:00PM.

Please listen to the AFS Equal Opportunities Section podcast on “Two-Eyed Seeing: An Indigenous Framework to Transform Fisheries” . It’s 60 minutes. Put it on while you’re washing dishes, or folding laundry, or working out 😊 https://diversity.fisheries.org/podcast-2/
And/Or Read the paper “Two-Eyed Seeing”: An Indigenous framework to transform fisheries research and management
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12516

Discussion Questions
-What ideas and questions came up for you as you listened to or read this content?
-Have you had any experiences as a Native/Indigenous person working with US state or federal fisheries managers on fisheries research?
-Have you had any experiences working on fisheries or natural resources management issues or doing scientific research alongside Native/Indigenous peoples and communities?
-What can AFS SNEC and NED do to promote opportunities for ‘two-eyed seeing’ in fisheries research in our area?

Podcast Description:
Lian Guo and Aaron Bunch collaborate on a great conversation with Dr. Andrea Reid. Have you ever thought about the history of the land you are on right now? Look around you. Many places are named after Native American/Indigenous Peoples. Dr. Reid discusses many important aspects of the relationship between Native/Indigenous Peoples and Fisheries. She discusses her open access paper which defines the concept of Two‐Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk in Mi’kmaw) which embraces “learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing, and to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all,” as envisaged by Elder Dr. Albert Marshall. Please visit the podcast link to access more resources related to this episode.

Reading for 1-20-22 AFS SNEC Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Discussion Group

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Please listen to the “Financial Disparity in Fisheries Science” podcast at this link:  https://diversity.fisheries.org/podcast-2/ .

If you have additional time, skim this article too  https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/66/7/584/2463185 .

We will discuss any aspects of either resource that stood out to participants.

As a starting point for discussion: The podcast brings up barriers to entering academia and fisheries science that are related to people not understanding academic culture. Can you think of how such barriers might be at play in your own organization or in fisheries science in general? What concepts of “fisheries culture” might we take for granted that might not actually be widely understood and thus serve as a barrier to entering this field?

The Zoom meeting link was sent in a SNEC listserv email on 1-14-22. If you cannot find it please email [email protected]

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SNEC Winter 2021-22 Newsletter

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Read all about what your SNEC colleagues are working on!

Announcements

SNEC supports a new generation of biologists
Give yourself a big pat on the back! Thanks to the contributions of our members, SNEC was able to make a donation to the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program which provides paid summer internships and mentoring to high school students interested in fisheries.

New Newsletter Format
The communications committee is testing a new newsletter format. Please feel free to share feedback with us by emailing Abigail Archer or George Maynard, and submit your own content for the next edition anytime using our new Google Form.

SNEC Winter Meeting Updates
For our Winter 2022 Science meeting, we are going to incorporate COVID precautions and offer multiple attendance options. Instead of having a large, one day event, we will offer three, mini-symposia (2-3 hours) throughout the region at:
UMass Amherst, 1/21/22 at 2pm at Holdsworth Hall
UCONN Storrs, 1/22/22 at 10am at the Biology/Physics Building
UMass Dartmouth SMAST in New Bedford, 1/26/22 at 2pm at the East Building

Masks will be required for in-person attendance, and the talks will be live streamed to provide the option for virtual attendance. We also hope to record the sessions so they can be viewed at a later time. Registration is now open here – please be sure to select the correct event for in-person registration! Registration will be closed the day prior to the events, so don’t wait!
Please submit abstracts here, we need your content to make these sessions successful!! Abstract submission will close Friday, January 7 (Note that priority will be given to submissions from students and professionals based in the geographic region of the meeting.) Questions regarding abstract submission can be sent to [email protected].

Member Submitted Content
Photo Essay: Aquaculture and Acidification Project
Submitted by: Abigail Archer, Fisheries & Aquaculture Specialist with Woods Hole Sea Grant and Barnstable Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Picture of Abby
Follow along in this photo essay as Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension respond to a question asked by members of the Massachusetts shellfish aquaculture industry. Lab studies show that shellfish exposed to acidic conditions will have poor growth and survival. Is this happening now in the waters of Cape Cod? Will oysters and quahogs exposed to varying acidic conditions in their natural environment also have differences in growth or survival? Or will other conditions in the environment like the amount of food available, balance out the effects of acidic water?

Identifying Common Approaches and Needs for Fisheries Dependent Data
Submitted by: Gavin Fay, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology
Click here for more information about the Openscapes champions workshops for Northeast fishery dependent data and open data science, organized by Gavin Fay (UMassD), Andy Jones (NOAA NEFSC), and Julie Lowndes + Anna Holder (NCEAS). This 2 month program brought together students, faculty, NOAA scientists, and other researchers through the region to discuss collaborative work practices, group work culture, and all things open data science. This workshop series was a great partnership between academic and NMFS in the region to improve workforce capacity.

The Future of Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Biodiversity
Submitted by: Michelle Staudinger, Science Coordinator, DOI Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Updates from the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC):
A team of NE CASC researchers is working in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS) in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (BOHA) to address the risks from sea level rise, coastal storms, warming waters, and non-native invasive species. For more information, check out the full story here…
The NE CASC will announce is spring 2022 webinar series in January. Past webinars are all recorded and available online here and cover pressing topics such as coastal resilience, climate refugia, tribal engagement, and more!

Recently Published Research

A review of River Herring science in support of species conservation and ecosystem restoration.
Hare, J. A., D. L. Borggaard, M. A. Alexander, M. M. Bailey, A. A. Bowden, K. Damon-Randall, J. T. Didden, D. J. Hasselman, T. Kerns, R. McCrary, S. McDermott, J. A. Nye, J. Pierce, E. T. Schultz, J. D. Scott, C. Starks, K. Sullivan, and M. B. Tooley. 2021. A review of River Herring science in support of species conservation and ecosystem restoration. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 13: 627-664. (doi: 10.1002/mcf2.10174)

River herring—a collective name for the Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis—play a crucial role in freshwater and marine ecosystems along the Eastern Seaboard of North America. River herring are anadromous and return to freshwater habitats in the tens to hundreds of millions to spawn, supplying food to many species and providing nutrients to freshwater ecosystems. After two and a half centuries of habitat loss, habitat degradation, and overfishing, river herring are at historic lows. In 2013, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries established the Technical Expert Working Group (TEWG) to synthesize information about river herring and to provide recommendations to advance the science related to their restoration. This paper was composed largely by the chairs of the TEWG subgroups and represents a review of the current state of knowledge of river herring, with an emphasis on identification of threats and discussion of recent research and management actions related to understanding and reducing these threats. Important research needs are then identified and discussed. Finally, current knowledge is synthesized, considering the relative importance of different threats. This synthesis identifies dam removal and increased stream connectivity as critical to river herring restoration. Better understanding and accounting for predation, climate change, and fisheries are also important for restoration. Finally, there is recent evidence that the effects of human development and contamination on habitat quality may be more important threats than previously recognized. Given the range of threats, an ecosystem approach is needed to be successful with river herring restoration. To facilitate this ecosystem approach, collaborative forums such as the TEWG (renamed the Atlantic Coast River Herring Collaborative Forum in 2020) are needed to share and synthesize information among river herring managers, researchers, and community groups from across the species’ range. Read the full paper..

Direct and size-mediated effects of temperature and ration-dependent growth rates on energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Guo L. W., S. D. McCormick, E. T. Schultz, A. Jordaan. 2021. Direct and size-mediated effects of temperature and ration-dependent growth rates on energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus). Journal of Fish Biology (doi: 10.1111/jfb.14824)

Growth rate and energy reserves are important determinants of fitness and are governed by endogenous and exogenous factors. Thus, examining the influence of individual and multiple stressors on growth and energy reserves can help estimate population health under current and future conditions. In young anadromous fishes, freshwater habitat quality determines physiological state and fitness of juveniles emigrating to marine habitats. In this study, the authors tested how temperature and food availability affect survival, growth and energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus), a forage fish distributed along the eastern North American continent. Field-collected juvenile anadromous A. pseudoharengus were exposed for 21 days to one of two temperatures (21°C and 25°C) and one of two levels of food rations (1% or 2% tank biomass daily) and compared for differences in final size, fat mass-at-length, lean mass-at-length and energy density. Increased temperature and reduced ration both led to lower growth rates, and the effect of reduced ration was greater at higher temperature. Fat mass-at-length decreased with dry mass, and energy density increased with total length, suggesting size-based endogenous influences on energy reserves. Lower ration also directly decreased fat mass-at-length, lean mass-at-length and energy density. Given the fitness implications of size and energy reserves, temperature and food availability should be considered important indicators of nursery habitat quality and incorporated in A. pseudoharengus life-history models to improve forecasting of population health under climate change. Read the full paper..

Ovarian dynamics and fecundity regulation in blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis, from the Connecticut River, US.
Mouchlianitis F., E. T. Schultz, T. C. dos Santos Schmidt, J. P. Davis, K. Ganias. 2021. Ovarian dynamics and fecundity regulation in blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis, from the Connecticut River, US. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 37: 64-72. (doi: 10.1111/jai.14128; preprint at http://opencommons.uconn.edu/eeb_articles/50)

We analyzed ovarian dynamics of anadromous blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis, in Connecticut River with the principal aim of exploring oocyte recruitment and how it shapes the fecundity pattern. We examined the oocyte release strategy and analyzed spawning cyclicity by linking oocyte growth to the degeneration of postovulatory follicles. Females were accordingly classified as pre-spawners, early and late active spawners, and oocyte recruitment intensity was compared among the different spawning phases. Oocyte recruitment occurred continuously and in parallel with spawning activity, a pattern which is diagnostic of indeterminate fecundity. However, both fecundity and oocyte recruitment intensity progressively decreased (tapered) throughout spawning, until the ovary was depleted of vitellogenic oocytes. There was no massive atresia of vitellogenic oocytes at the end of the spawning season, which is atypical of indeterminate spawners. We propose that tapering in oocyte recruitment and fecundity is an adaptation to the high energetic expenditure of the upstream spawning migration.
Read the full paper..

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