Today's podcast guest is AFS Executive Director, Jeff Kopaska. Jeff provides a recap of his first year in his position with the American Fisheries Society. Join as we look back at 2025 and forward to what's coming next in 2026!

Episode guest: Jeff Kopaska AFS Executive Director jkopaska@fisheries.org

Updates:

AFS Membership

2026 AFS Annual Meeting - Call for Sessions

Upcoming continuing education opportunities

Today's guest is Gary Whelan, 2025-2025 AFS President. Gary stopped by the podcast recent to share insights on his plan of work for the coming year and offer advice for students and early-career fisheries professionals.

Episode Guest:

Gary Whelan

gwhelan@fisheries.org

AFS Updates:

Webinar - November 19:

Science Communication Through Emotionally Charged Extreme Events

December Fisheries Community Check In

December 16 at 1 pm ET

In case you missed it - here are links to recordings of two recent online sessions!

Advancing the understanding, appreciation, conservation, and management of native nongame fishes in the United States - recorded on November 12

AFS Certification Online Application Review and Q&A - recorded on November 6

This week, we're making another stop on the tour of AFS Sections, and this time it's the Marine Fisheries Section (MFS). Susan Piacenza, the current president of the Section, stopped by the podcast recently to share updates about MFS activities - and to chat about her work with sea turtles!

Episode guest:

Susan Piacenza

Oregon State University

Marine Fisheries Section President

https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/susie-piacenza

susan.piacenza@oregonstate.edu

Marine Fisheries Section: https://mfs.fisheries.org/

AFS Updates and Links:

AFS Membership - renewals and new members

Upcoming online sessions include:

Fisheries Community Check In - October 14

Invasive Species Database Webinar - October 28

Higher-Level Thinking online course - October 30

AFS Certification - online application overview - November 5

Fisheries Community Check In - November 6