THE EMERGING SCIENCE-BASED ADVOCACY ROLE OF THE AMERICAN-FISHERIES-SOCIETY

Within a few months of its founding in 1870, the tradition of science- based advocacy in the American Fisheries Society (AFS) was established . The American Fish Culturist's Association, as it was then called, lo dged protests with the U.S. State Department and Canada against obstru ctions in the St. Lawrence River that restricted the migration of salm on. Prompt response was obtained. In addition to resource advocacy, as a professional society our mission encompasses scientific development and professional service objectives. Throughout its history the Socie ty has done an excellent job of building fisheries science through gat hering and disseminating information, recognizing educational, scienti fic, and technical accomplishments, and establishing standards for the fisheries profession. The result of our science-based advocacy has be en less distinguished-we have documented the decline of fish populatio ns and the loss of supporting fish habitats as human population expans ion and attendant resource development has occurred. In recognition of this failure, 92% of the Society's membership surveyed in 1986 gave m edium or high priority to more active participation by AFS in developi ng environmental policy. The Society has since increased its advocacy and lobbying activities. We support agency fishery program budgets, de velop legislation, and comment on legislative initiatives of others. W e have formed a coalition of fishermen to conserve habitat; sponsored the Mississippi Interjurisdictional Cooperative Resources Agreement; a nd launched the Fisheries Action Network. We recognize that if AFS is to participate in bringing about a reversal of the declines cited abov e, the Society must put scientific facts into a context of environment al ethics and shared community values to effectively and clearly commu nicate the fishery consequences of decisions on the management of land and water resources.