Experts will explore the future of offshore wind on the Atlantic coast and its potential as a climate solution, analyze fisheries trade-offs taking into account international lessons learned, and discuss the need for regional monitoring to better understand and mitigate impacts.

Panelists include:

• Catherine Bowes, Program Director, Offshore Wind Energy, National Wildlife Federation
• Brian Hooker, Marine Biologist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs
• Anne Hawkins, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP (commercial fisheries perspective)
• Kevin D.E. Stokesbury, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology
• Hywel Roberts, Lead Environment Specialist, Environmental Management UK Wind Power, Orsted
• Andrew Lipsky, Planning Officer, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Moderator: Drue Winters, Policy Director, American Fisheries Society

FOR PRESS PASSES CONTACT:    Martha Wilson, cell 202.445.9514, Email: mwilson@fisheries.org

Beth Beard, cell 240.687.3761, Email: bbeard@fisheries.org

SOCIAL MEDIA: We plan to record the panel discussion and post it on www.fisheries.org with highlights on social media:  Twitter: @AmFisheriesSoc, Facebook: @AmericanFisheriesSociety,  Instagram: @americanfisheries

Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources.

 Theme: “Communicating the Science of Fisheries Conservation to Diverse Audiences”

Highlights (see links at bottom of the page):

• Plenary speakers include: Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator of NOAA Fisheries; Mamie Parker, Ph.D., the first African-American to serve as a USFWS regional director and the head of the nation’s inland fisheries program; Bonnie McCay, Ph.D., Rutgers University, retired professor of human dimensions of environmental issues and policy; and Christine O’Connell, Ph.D., an expert in the field of science communication, policy, and engagement at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, Stony Brook University.
• Hundreds of educational presentations will cover issues like fisheries management, habitat restoration, climate impacts, microplastic impacts, new technologies, aquaculture challenges, extreme event impacts, electronic reporting mechanisms, acidification in aquatic ecosystems
• A special “Offshore Wind Energy” panel – Regional and international experts will explore the trade-offs inherent in offshore wind energy development, discuss current fisheries impacts, research gaps and the need for long-term regional monitoring on the front-end of large-scale wind energy development projects.
• 5k event for runners called the “Spawning Run,” filling the Atlantic City boardwalk with athletic scientists

WHY: Every year AFS members and others representing the fisheries sciences and related professions gather to share new research and to make connections. Participants come from around the country, and from outside the U.S. (e.g., Canada, Mexico, and China). While the majority of our conference is education-related, we host dozens of professional networking events as well as those for students, fishery scientists, and others.

CONTACT:  Martha Wilson, cell 202.445.9514, email: mwilson@fisheries.or
Beth Beard, cell 240.687.3761, email: bbeard@fisheries.org

Science Symposia Summary: https://afs.confex.com/afs/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Program/1086

Five-day Schedule-At-A-Glance: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/preliminary-schedule/

AFS Meeting Website: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/

Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources. www.fisheries.org