For Release: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Ongoing Challenges to New York State's Ecosystem

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 ongoing challenges facing our ecosystems. Media availability of certain participants is noted below. Full details on times and content of presentations can be found at http://www.afslakeplacid.org/ .

Atmospheric Pollutants: Linkages Across Air, Land, and Water and Their Impacts on Aquatic and Forest Ecosystems

Efforts to regulate atmospheric pollutants, such as sulfur and nitrous oxides, and mercury, during the past three decades have provided limited protection for sensitive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of eastern North America. Harmful effects of acidification within hardwood forests and high concentrations of mercury in game fish from lakes and rivers of the Northeast are, in fact, only now becoming evident. The main objective of this symposium is to present the most current science concerning the effects of atmospheric pollutants on aquatic and forest ecosystems in eastern North America.

The "Atmospheric Pollutants: Linkages Across Air, Land, and Water and Their Impacts on Aquatic and Forest Ecosystems" symposium will be held on Wednesday, September 13, from 1:10 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday, September 14, from 7:50 a.m. to12 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. at the Olympic Center's USA rink, Biathlon room. Experts on the effects of atmospheric pollution, including two presenters from the symposium, will be available for interview on Wednesday, September 13, at 11:00 am in the AFS2006 Media Room.

Robert Daniels, Chief Scientist - Biology, New York State Museum
Howard Simonin, Leader of the Aquatic Toxicant Research Unit, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Mark Watson (attending, not presenting), Senior Project Manager, Environmental Research Program, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Ecological, Social and Political Challenges of Managing Landlocked Sea Lamprey Populations in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin

Sea lamprey management in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Watershed, and Seneca and Cayuga in the Finger Lakes region is a large and complex fish management program. The ecological, recreational and economic benefits directly resulting from the program represent an exceptional success. The coordination and cooperation required from several agencies and two countries is similarly a remarkable accomplishment.

The "Ecological, Social and Political Challenges of Managing Landlocked Sea Lamprey Populations in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin" symposium will be held on Monday, September 11, from 1:10 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. and Tuesday, September 12, from 7:50 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza's Grandview B room. Experts on sea lamprey management, including three presenters from the symposium, will be available for interview on Tuesday, September 12, at 3:15 p.m. in the AFS2006 Media Room.

Doug Stang, Bureau of Fisheries Chief, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation;
Brian Chipman, Fisheries Biologist, State of Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife; and
Gavin Christie, Sea Lamprey Program Manager - Strategic Planning, Great Lakes Fisheries Commission

Strategies to Prevent, Contain, and Manage Aquatic Invasions: How Can We Improve Effectiveness?

North Americans have invested heavily in controlling pollution, restoring habitat, and managing fisheries. Anglers and others should now be enjoying the full and free use of rejuvenated fish populations. Instead, our aquatic resources reel from impacts of one new invasive species after another. Focusing effectively on pre-invasion choke points could block many, if not all, aquatic invasives, thereby preventing subsequent costly economic losses and control costs. The symposium will identify, analyze and improve the effectiveness of strategies to prevent, contain, and manage aquatic invasives.

The "Strategies to Prevent, Contain, and Manage Aquatic Invasions: How Can We Improve Effectiveness?" symposium will be held on Tuesday, September 12, from 1:10 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, September 13, from 7:50 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza's Olympic 1 room. Experts on non-native aquatic species, including three presenters from the symposium, will be available for interview on Wednesday, September 13, at 2:45 p.m. in the AFS2006 Media Office located in the Olympic Center's Whiteface Room.

Mark Malchoff, New York State Sea Grant
Kristen Holeck, Graduate Research Assistant, Cornell University
Phil Moy, Fisheries and Nonindigenous Species Specialist, University of Wisconsin Sea Grant