Reflecting on the 2023 American Fisheries Society meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan this past August and its theme Adaptive Approaches to Understand and Manage Change in Fisheries, we are humbled by the efforts AFS President April Croxton and her planning team put into creating a more inclusive space for all fisheries professionals. This message was on full display – from diversity badges to workshops such as Scientific Writing in English for non-native Speakers and Monsters of Environment Justice to symposia such as We Are Not Adjacent to Nature We Are Part of It and Becoming Relevant to a Changing User-base: Strategies to Manage Future Fisheries. We all came to the fisheries table, so-to-speak, with a diversity of perspectives. These, as well as a wide variety of other symposia, continuing education courses, and networking opportunities, provided a rich learning environment for all.  The weather was hot (and humid!), but the view of the Grand River was spectacular – and it seemed particularly fitting that we also caught the start of the salmon run. 

Two Women of Fisheries Board Members, Chelsey Crandall and Kim Bonvechio, were able to attend and present their work in the realm of human dimensions and freshwater fisheries monitoring. They were also eager to spread the word about Women of Fisheries and our mission to connect, support, and amplify the experiences of women in fisheries science. It is likely if you had the chance to connect with them, perhaps at the Women Affinity Social hosted by the AFS Equal Opportunities Section or during a Fish Sister Meetup, you walked away with a Women of Fisheries sticker and other information about upcoming events. They also gave plenty of stickers away to our amazing Women of Fisheries allies! It was great to see so many women fisheries scientists at the meeting, learn more about their work, and talk about ways that Women of Fisheries can continue to create community and work alongside our allies to move the field of fisheries forward.

Finally, we would like to give a shout out to all of our women award winners this year!

• Lian Guo, winner of the Emmeline Moore Prize which recognizes “efforts of an individual member in the promotion of demographic diversity in the Society” 
• April Croxton, Jessica Mistak, and Joanna Whittier chosen for the AFS Fellows Program “for efforts in leadership, research, teaching and mentoring, resource management and/or conservation, and outreach/interaction with the public” 
• Rebecca Brown and Julie Simpson, winners of the Distinguished Service Award for “outstanding service to the Society”
• Lisa Kerr, winner of the Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award “for outstanding contributions to the conservation of fishery resources”
• Jo Johnson, winner of the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Award for “developing future leaders of the Society” 
• Hannah Mulligan, winner of the William R. Mote Fisheries Fellowship Award for graduate students “working in research that focuses on the conservation and sustainability of fisheries species considered popular for recreation”  
• Hannah Mulligan, winner of the Student Writing Award for the submitted article entitled “Hidden Invaders: How the Live Bait Trade Can Move Invasive Species”
  

A full list of 2023 AFS award winners are posted online at the AFS awards page.