AFS-OC Membership Update

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As of June 4, 2026, the Ontario Chapter has 92 paid members! The membership includes 39 regular, 23 student, 12 early career professional, 15 retired and 3 life members. Have you renewed your membership for 2026? 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!

Volume XXIV, Issue I – The Lateral Line

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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

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Ontario Steam Assessment Protocol (OSAP) Training – June 1-5, 2026

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Monday, June 1 to Friday, June 5, 2025
Cost: $1,250.00 + HST

Learn how to apply the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP) techniques!

This course trains you in standardized methods to evaluate habitat, hydrology, geomorphology, invertebrates, and fish communities in wadeable streams. Methods include the field components of the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network protocol and the historic Level I electrofishing methodology.

Ontario Streams, in conjunction with the OSAP steering committee, offers this course in May-June each year. This course is intended for students and professionals who will be involved in stream surveys. It creates an understanding of stream ecology and the interconnectedness of riverine processes and how important it is to measure these characteristics consistently and repeatably.

The methods taught in this course are provincially recognized as standards by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and federally recognized by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

See Ontario Steam Assessment Protocol Course for more information. Register at the bottom of the page.

New Eastern and GTA Regional Reps

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Mitchell Shorgan and Jon Clayton have joined the AFS-OC Executive Committee as Eastern Ontario and Greater Toronto Area Regional Representatives, respectively. Welcome Mitchell and Jon.

Ontario Streams Backpack Electrofishing Training

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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 where you will demonstrate safe implementation in the field.

See current Backpack Electrofishing Crew Lead Training Course for more information and to register.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

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

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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 water website:

  • Interim standard: fish capture and relocation
  • Interim standard: planning for land-based erosion and sediment control
  • Interim standard: water intake end-of-pipe fish screens

Although these are interim documents, proponents are encouraged to start using them by referencing  them in requests for review and applications for authorization.

Input from Indigenous Peoples has been and will continue to be sought with funding through the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program.

Additional feedback on the Standards is welcome. Please send any comments or questions to the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program inbox. Comments received by March 31, 2026 will be considered for incorporation into a final version.

2026 Al Dextrase Award Winner – Emma Geffros, Trent University

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The winner of the Al Dextrase Award for Best Student Poster Presentation at the 2026 AFS-OC Annual Meeting was Emma Geffros from Trent University. Emma (right) received her award from Ontario Chapter President Connor Reid (left). Her poster was titled “Insights from Ontario’s Broad-scale Monitoring program: Trends in sport fish abundance” and the abstract is available in the 2026 AFS-OC Conference Program.

2026 E.J. Crossman Award Winner – Katie Watkins, Carleton University

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The recipient of the E.J. Crossman Award for Best Student Oral Presentation at the 2026 AFS-OC Annual Meeting was Katie Watkins from Carleton University. Katie (right) received her award from Ontario Chapter President Connor Reid (left). Her presentation was titled “Spatial behaviour and habitat use of Bowfin (Amia ocellicauda) in Lake Ontario” and the abstract is available in the 2026 AFS-OC Conference Program.

2026 Outstanding Mentor Award Winner – William Gardner, DFO (Retired)

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The 2026 recipient of the Ontario Chapter Student Subunit Outstanding Mentor Award was William (Bill) Gardner, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Retired). The award was presented by mentee and AFS-OC President-Elect Raegan Davis at the 2026 AFS-OC Annual Meeting.