About Us

Mission Statement

The mission of the American Fisheries Society 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.

Who We Are

The Utah Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is an organization composed of professional fisheries biologists, scientists, and policy makers interested in promoting the well-being of Utah’s fisheries and aquatic resources through scientific advancement and public outreach.

What We Do

Our focus is on improving fisheries science and the fisheries profession here in Utah. To that end, we host an annual meeting where fisheries professionals and students in Utah can present their research and learn from each other. This collaborative learning helps improve fisheries throughout the State and advances our collective understanding of fisheries issues, challenges, and solutions in Utah and the Western US.

In addition, the annual meeting provides training and mentorship opportunities. We provide continuing education opportunities for all meeting attendees.  Continuing education opportunities at past meetings include Primers on Statistical Analyses, Preparing Research for Publication, Larval Fish Identification, and Messaging Scientific Information to the Public. In addition, participation from high school and university students is highly encouraged. The annual meeting provides an avenue for students to present posters or presentations and interact with fisheries professionals.

Outside of the annual meeting, we also provide professional level education. For example, this past summer, we hosted an “electro-fishing” and “age and growth” workshop that was free to our members.  These were professional level certification courses taught by some of the most respected instructors in the country and the courses help ensure our professional members are using the most advanced and modern techniques in fisheries research

How You Can Help

Sponsorships are a critical component to our success. Generous community sponsors help us fund the annual meeting and additional education opportunities, as well as, allow us to continue to support student scholarships and grants for small projects. If you are interested in sponsoring the Utah Chapter of the American Fisheries Society please visit our sponsorship page.