For Release: Tuesday, August 29, 2006
New York State's Evolving Waters
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York Chapter of the American Fisheries Society have invited scientists from around the world to attend the American Fisheries Society's (AFS) 136th Annual Meeting in Lake Placid, Essex County from September 10-14, 2006.
Members of the press are welcome to attend any session or talk and receive a free registration packet.
If attending, please stop at the AFS2006 Media Room located in the Olympic Center's Whiteface Room for a media packet. The Media Room will be open on Thursday (9/7) from 8 a.m. to noon; Monday and Tuesday (9/11 and 9/12), from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday (9/13), from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thursday (9/14), from 7:30 a.m. to noon. For media pre-registration, call 585-226-5339 prior to September 5, 2006, and 585-472-1839 thereafter.
The meeting's theme is "Fish in the Balance" and it will explore the interrelation among fish, aquatic habitats and humans, highlight challenges facing aquatic resource professionals, and explore methods to resolve conflicts between those that use or have an interest in our aquatic resources. Approximately 1,800 to 2,000 aquatic and fisheries scientists from 39 countries are expected to attend. Over 1,100 technical presentations and 200 technical poster presentations will be conducted during the four days of the meeting.
Thirty-two symposia will be conducted including the three highlighted below on several of New York's important fresh and marine waters. Media availability of certain participants is noted below. Full details on times and content of presentations can be found at http://www.afslakeplacid.org/ .
Oneida Lake - Celebrating 50 Years of Research on Fish Population Dynamics
Oneida Lake is a shallow, productive lake and the largest lake by area within New York State. Since 1956, Oneida Lake, and in particular its walleye and yellow perch population, has been studied continuously. 2006 marks the 50-year anniversary of these studies and of the Cornell Biological Field Station on the shores of Oneida Lake. More recent studies have included invasive species including gizzard shad and white perch, zebra mussels and cormorants.
The "Oneida Lake - Celebrating 50 Years of Research on Fish Population Dynamics" symposium will be held on Tuesday, September 12, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Crowne Plaza's Olympic 3 room. Dr. Ed Mills of Cornell University will be available for interviews on Tuesday, September 12, at 1:45 p.m. in the AFS2006 Media Room.
The Hudson River Estuary: The Past, Present and Future of Fishes and Their Habitats in a Human Dominated Estuarine System
The Hudson River Estuary is a naturally dynamic environment with a diverse fish community including shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass, American shad, blueback herring, largemouth and smallmouth bass and American eels. It has a long history of ongoing human influences that have resulted in loss of habitat, degraded water quality, industrial contamination, water intake impacts, overfishing, and introduction of exotic and invasive species. More recently, water quality improvements, species management and restoration efforts have aimed to improve Hudson River Estuary habitats and restore fisheries. The symposium will focus on the history of the Hudson River Estuary, the current state of its fisheries and habitats and ongoing efforts to support recovery of important fisheries through science, management and restoration.
"The Hudson River Estuary: The Past, Present and Future of Fishes and Their Habitats in a Human Dominated Estuarine System"symposium will be held on Monday, September 11, from 1:10 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, September 12, from 7:50 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza's Olympic 2 room. Experts on the Hudson River Estuary and it fishery, including Michael Millard, with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, will be available for media interviews on Tuesday, September 12, at 1 p.m. in the AFS2006 Media Room.
