AFS Beneath the Surface

AFS Executive Director - 2025 in review and 2026 preview

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 [jkopaska@fisheries.org]   Updates: AFS Membership [https://fisheries.org/membership/join/] 2026 AFS Annual Meeting - Call for Sessions [https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/call-for-sessions/] Upcoming continuing education opportunities [https://fisheries.org/membership/continuing-education/]

Meet the 2025-2026 AFS President!

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 [gwhelan@fisheries.org]   AFS Updates: Webinar - November 19: Science Communication Through Emotionally Charged Extreme Events [https://fisheries.org/2025/10/webinar-november-19-science-communication-through-emotionally-charged-extreme-events/]   December Fisheries Community Check In [https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4eedd474-ddc1-48eb-9d17-9b2a5c6804e9@ea04981a-ce57-48f5-96aa-0b09f880fa48] 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 [https://fisheries.org/2025/10/webinar-november-12-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 [https://fisheries.org/2025/11/webinar-recording-afs-certification-overview-and-online-application-walkthrough/] - recorded on November 6

AFS Section Roundup: Marine Fisheries Section

This week, we're making another stop on the tour of AFS Sections, and this time it's the Marine Fisheries Section (MFS) [https://mfs.fisheries.org/]. 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 [https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/susie-piacenza] susan.piacenza@oregonstate.edu [susan.piacenza@oregonstate.edu]   Marine Fisheries Section: https://mfs.fisheries.org/ [https://mfs.fisheries.org/]   AFS Updates and Links: AFS Membership - renewals and new members [https://fisheries.org/membership/join/]   Upcoming online sessions [https://fisheries.org/membership/continuing-education/] 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

2025 Excellence in Public Outreach Award recipient David Shiffman

AFS is back with a new "Beneath the Surface" episode! This time, we're highlighting 2025 Excellence in Public Outreach honoree, David Shiffman. David shares insights on social media best practices and why sharks matter!   Episode guest: David Shiffman https://davidshiffmancv.com/ [https://davidshiffmancv.com/] David.Shiffman@gmail.com [David.Shiffman@gmail.com]   July 2025 Fisheries article: https://academic.oup.com/fisheries/article/50/7/316/8107657 [https://academic.oup.com/fisheries/article/50/7/316/8107657]   AFS Updates:

AFS Section Roundup: Invasive and Introduced Species Section

The AFS Sections roundup continues today with an introduction to the Invasive and Introduced Species Section [https://introducedfish.fisheries.org/]! Today's guest is Nathan Lederman, the Section's current president. Join us to learn about this section's history and current projects. To learn more, join their business meeting at the AFS Annual Meeting next month!   Episode guest: Nathan Lederman nathaniel.lederman@wisconsin.gov [nathaniel.lederman@wisconsin.gov]   Learn more about the American Fisheries Society [https://fisheries.org/] and our upcoming Annual Meeting [https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/]! Comments or suggestions? Submit via email to lmaza@fisheries.org [lmaza@fisheries.org]