2025 AFS-OC AGM – Final Notice and Call for Presenters

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Join us for our 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference at the University of Guelph. Co-hosted with Ontario Chapter of The Wildlife Society.

March 21-23, 2025

Theme: Fish, Fur, and Feathers: Science Across Ontario’s Ecosystems

Keynote speakers are Dr. Sarah Alderman (University of Guelph) and Dr. Graham Raby (Trent University). Dr. Alderman’s work is focused on comparative physiology using fish and aquatic organisms as models in response to environmental stressors. Dr. Raby’s work is centred on understanding how variation in behaviour, physiology, and life history strategies influence individuals and populations using fish as a model.

Those planning to present papers or posters at the 2025 Joint Ontario Chapter of AFS / Ontario Chapter of WS Annual Meeting must submit abstracts by February 28, 2025. There are limited slots available for oral and poster presentations. Papers are solicited for all aquatic resource topics, and on completed studies, preliminary results, or case studies. Abstracts should be submitted using Google Forms. Please contact Ben Hlina (president@afs-oc.org) if you encounter any issues or would like further information.

The AFS-OC Executive Committee and AFS-OC Student Subunit are offering two bursaries for travel and conference-related activities for this year’s meeting. The bursaries are:

  • Up to $250 for three Student or Young Professional AFS Ontario Chapter members
  • Up to $350 for one Regular AFS Ontario Chapter member

To apply, please submit via email a brief bio and explanation of how these additional funds could help pay your way to University of Guelph and the Annual Meeting (up to 3-4 paragraphs). All applications will be reviewed by the voting members of the AFS-OC Executive Committee/Student Subunit Executive and awarded based on need. Please submit your application by email to Erik Tuononen (past-president@afs-oc.org) by February 28, 2025.

Registration is available through the Online Store. AFS-OC members and students are eligible for discounted rates.

Accommodations can be booked at a discounted rate at the Delta Hotels Guelph Conference Centre for $235.00 per night. The last day to book this rate is Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Book your group rate here (note: hotel block is under Ontario Chapter Wildlife Society Conference).

See 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference and Final Notice and Call for Presenters for additional information.

Employment Opportunities – Student Fish and Wildlife Jobs

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Are you a student or recent graduate looking for an opportunity to build your career over the summer? Are you passionate about making a difference? The Summer Employment Opportunities program provides opportunities to obtain valuable work experience, gain transferable skills, and build professional networks.

Submit an application today for these summer employment opportunities:

• Assistant Fish Culture Technician
• Assistant Fisheries Technician
• Fish & Wildlife Assistant
• Aquatic/Wildlife Biologist

See the Job Posting for further details and to apply.

American Fisheries Society

AFS Webinar: Aquatic Vegetation Management – February 19, 2025

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Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Time: 2:00 pm EDT
Webinar Registration

Large Lake Eurasian Watermilfoil Management

Presenter: Jason Euchner, Aquatic Vegetation Management Biologist
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Fisheries and Aquatic Plant Response to Lake Restoration Projects in Northwest Iowa Natural Lakes

Presenter: Mike Hawkins, District Fisheries Biologist
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

 

AFS-OC Membership Update

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As of February 1, 2025, the Ontario Chapter has 125 paid members! The membership includes 58 regular, 37 student, 16 young professional, 13 retired and 1 life members. Have you renewed your membership for 2025? Are you a member yet? If not, see the Become a Member page to find out why you should join. AFS individual members receive free online access to all five American Fisheries Society journals. Join or renew TODAY and don’t forget to contact the AFS Membership Team at membership@fisheries.org to add the Ontario Chapter to your membership!

Call for Expression of Interest as Co-chair of COSEWIC Freshwater Fishes Specialist Subcommittee

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Expressions of interest are invited from individuals wishing to serve as Species Specialist Subcommittee Co-chair on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The term of the position is 4 years. Expressions of interest may be submitted between 29 January and 05 March, 2025. See Call for Expression of Interest as Co-chair for Specialist Subcommittee for complete information.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

News – DFO FFHPP Risk Management Framework

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Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) has released its Risk Management Framework Overview on the Talk Fish Habitat website.

This overview:

  • provides information about FFHPP’s risk management approach
  • serves as a foundation for future engagement on policies, guidance and tools related to how DFO manages risks to fish and fish habitat
  • communicates the status of the FFHPP’s Risk Management Framework in the context of the implementation of the Fisheries Act (2019), the Species at Risk Act, the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

This overview document will also be posted on DFO’s Projects Near Water website.

2025 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary

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The 2025 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary is now available! Digital copies can be viewed online or as a PDF download.

An annual guide to the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in Ontario. It contains information about recreational fishing licences, open seasons and catch limits, as well as up-to-date fishing regulations for each fishing zone. Effective January 1, 2025.

Learn more at fishing notices and updates.

New Link – FishAge.org

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A link to FishAge.org, a collection of verified known-Age fish structures to aid in the advancement of fisheries management, has been added to the Links page under the Fisheries / Natural Resources category.

All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes

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All Too Clear uses cutting-edge underwater drones to explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of North America’s Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. The mussels are trapping nutrients, the building blocks of life, on the lake bottom. Without nutrients, organisms of all kinds – from the tiniest plankton to the largest fish – are vanishing, creating vast biological deserts. While the consequences for nature and people are severe, the loss of life has had an extraordinary side effect: it’s made the lakes far clearer than they’ve ever been before. We’ve harnessed this newfound clarity to capture animal behaviours and freshwater environments that have never been filmed before.

All 3 “All Too Clear” episodes are now streaming Canada-wide on TVO Today Docs.