Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Welcome to the ONTARIO CHAPTER of the AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY

We welcome any and all suggestions, links, news releases, events, announcements, job postings, photographs or other contributions to the website and/or newsletter. Please forward to the Webmaster, Social Media Chair, Newsletter Editor or any member of the Executive Committee and we will ensure they are posted and/or distributed in a timely fashion.

What’s New highlights the newest postings and our News page provides the latest news items relevant to Ontario’s fisheries. Look to News & Events for upcoming community events, workshops, courses, meetings and conferences. Chapter members are encouraged to submit papers, presentations, posters or research for our Member Publications page and to check out the Members Area for newsletters, employment, training and educational opportunities. The Links page includes the Ontario Fishes Archives offering access to relevant historical fisheries publications, as well as useful links for fisheries/natural resources, government, on-line books/journals, organizations/associations, software/apps, AFS and AFS social networks.

Ontario Chapter merchandise and Event Registration are available through the Online Store.

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What’s New

AFS-OC Annual Meeting and Conference – March 5-7, 2027

November 7, 2026/in Meetings & Conferences, What's New/by Robert

2027 AFS-OC AGM, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario Theme: In the same boat: Collaborative science in a divided world

News – DFO Announces FFHPP Regulatory and Program Changes

November 2, 2026/in News, What's New/by Robert

Regulatory and program changes to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) have been implemented. These changes were made in response to actions identified in the 2025 Red Tape Review Progress Report to support greater efficiency in project reviews while continuing to uphold environmental standards and respect the rights of […]

New Link – AFS Unit Resource Center

November 2, 2026/in What's New/by Robert

A link to AFS Unit Resource Center has been added to the Links page under the American Fisheries Society category. The American Fisheries Society has developed a variety of guidelines and toolkits to help Units grow and maintain themselves effectively. If you are a new Unit leader, check out the Unit Leaders Guide for a start, and […]

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Annual Meeting

2027 Ontario Chapter Annual Meeting

March 5-7. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario

In the same boat: Collaborative science in a divided world

Abstracts: TBA, will be open for submissions by the end of November 2026.

Registration: TBA; early-bird rates available starting in December 2026.

AFS-OC members and students are eligible for discounted rates.

See Annual Meetings for highlights of past meetings.

Events

Ontario Streams Backpack Electrofishing Training

March 17, 2026/in Events & Workshops, What's New/by Robert

Ontario Streams offers electrofishing training courses, in spring and fall sessions. These courses are intended for students and professionals who will be involved in stream surveys and fisheries management. The main focus is to ensure the safe use of the backpack electrofishing units. The course will cover: electrical theory, safety measures, and an in-field practical […]

ECOPA Natural Resources Training

March 20, 2025/in Events & Workshops/by Robert

Ecopa Environmental provides training programs (including backpack electrofishing certification) designed to give industry professionals, government agencies, First Nations, academic institutions, community partners, and students hands-on experience and expertise in natural resource management See current Natural Resources Training opportunities.

NRTG Natural Resource Training

July 11, 2020/in Events & Workshops/by Robert

Natural Resources Training Group (NRTG) is a privately-registered training agency specializing in developing and delivering quality ‘hands-on’ and in-demand natural resource-related training programs (including backpack electrofishing certification). View offered Training Catalogue and Upcoming Schedule.

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News

News – DFO Announces FFHPP Regulatory and Program Changes

November 2, 2026/in News, What's New/by Robert

News – DFO Releases 3 New Interim Standards for the Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat

March 9, 2026/in News, What's New/by Robert

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) has released three new interim standards that were developed to guide project proponents in the design and implementation of mitigation measures considered critical to the protection of fish and fish habitat. The following are now published on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Projects near […]

News – DFO’s new Offsetting Policy and Position Statement for the Consideration of Cumulative Effects

March 28, 2025/in News/by Robert

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) has released a new Offsetting Policy and Cumulative Effects Position Statement. The Policy for Applying Measures to Offset Harmful Impacts to Fish and Fish Habitat and the Position Statement on the Consideration of Cumulative Effects in Support of Decision Making on Fisheries Act […]

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Conferences

AFS-OC Annual Meeting and Conference – March 5-7, 2027

November 7, 2026/in Meetings & Conferences, What's New/by Robert

2027 AFS-OC AGM, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario Theme: In the same boat: Collaborative science in a divided world

157th American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting – September 26-30, 2027

October 10, 2026/in Meetings & Conferences, What's New/by Robert

AFS 2027 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bridging the Gap: Fish Health, Fish Management, and Fish Culture

American Fisheries Society Calendar

March 1, 2014/in Meetings & Conferences/by Robert

American Fisheries Society Calendar

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Newsletters

Volume XXIV, Issue I – The Lateral Line

May 8, 2026/in Newsletters, What's New/by Robert

HIGHLIGHTS:
2026 AFS-OC AGM & Conference Summary; Student Subunit Update; President’s Message – Connor Reid; Aquatic Invaders – New Invasive Crayfish in Ontario – Gabriela Carew; Life in Retirement – William Gardner; Jumping Non-jumping Fish – Kathryn Peiman; Book Review – The Whole Fish Cookbook: New Ways to Cook, Eat, and Think. By Josh Niland – Connor Reid; Fish Focus – Lake Whitefish – Siobhan Ewert; New Books – The Functional Ecology of Freshwater Mussels, Crayfish, Crawfish, Crawdad: The Biology and Conservation of North America’s Favorite Crustaceans; Recipe – Crappie Fish Tacos; 2026 AFS-OC AGM Sponsors

Volume XXIII, Issue I – The Lateral Line

May 21, 2025/in Newsletters/by Robert

HIGHLIGHTS:
2025 AFS-OC AGM & Conference Summary – Silviya Ivanova; Student Subunit Update; AFS-OC Comment on Proposed Changes to ESA; Invasive Crayfish, Old and New – Sam Turner; The Fish Life List: Obvious or Obscure? – Sarah Steele; From the Lab – Jacob Lasci; Fish Focus – Rainbow Smelt – Siobhan Ewert; Book Review – Ignition: Lighting Fires in a Burning World. By M.R. O’Connor, and The Summer Canada Burned: the Wildfire Season that Shocked the World. By Monica Zurowski and Postmedia – Ross Claytor; 2025 AFS-OC AGM Sponsors

Volume XXII, Issue I – The Lateral Line

April 27, 2024/in Newsletters/by Robert

HIGHLIGHTS:
2024 AFS-OC AGM & Conference Summary; Student Subunit Update; Diversity and Inclusion – Sarah Steele; Redside Dace ESA Letter; Fish Focus – Iowa Darter – Siobhan Ewert; Book Review – A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road: New Thinking about Roads, People, and Wildlife. By Darryl Jones; Books by Ontario Biologists; 2024 AFS-OC AGM Sponsors

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OFFLHD

Ontario Freshwater Fishes Life History Database

a fully searchable database for all Ontario and adjacent Great Lakes freshwater fishes including introduced, extirpated and extinct species
contains current information pertaining to life history, habitat, size and age, distribution, conservation status, ecological value, reproduction and nomenclature for 156 species, 3 subspecies and 2 established hybrids
includes photographs, range maps, notes, Ontario record lengths and weights, length-weight regression coefficients, information sources, glossary of terms and related web links

ontariofishes.ca

Upcoming Events

AFS-OC Annual Meeting and Conference – March 5-7, 2027November 7, 2026 - 17:41
157th American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting – September 26-30, 2027October 10, 2026 - 11:45
Ontario Streams Backpack Electrofishing TrainingMarch 17, 2026 - 10:01
ECOPA Natural Resources TrainingMarch 20, 2025 - 09:41
NRTG Natural Resource TrainingJuly 11, 2020 - 20:32

LATEST TWEETS

AFS-OC

@afs_ontario ·

5 Jul

Come join our student team! We are now accepting nominations for 1-year student subunit committee officers to begin in September. Other positions not requiring nominations are also available and if interested, please reach out via email. https://forms.gle/WRjDGVKy8n7JoBf46 🐟🌊

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AFS-OC

@afs_ontario ·

10 Jun

We are excited to announce that the AFS-OC Student Subunit is organising an Aquatic Macro-invertebrate Bioblitz on Saturday, August 1. No experience is necessary and this event is open to all AFS–OC members and will be followed by snacks and non-alcoholic beverages provided (1/2)