To our Fish Sisters and Allies,
As we approach the end of another year, we enter a time of reflection. If your year was anything like ours, it has been one full of peaks and valleys, and maybe even hurricanes. Regardless, we are so glad you are part of our Women of Fisheries community working to connect, support, and amplify the experiences of women in fisheries science.
We are putting the finishing touches on our strategic plan and will be developing a work plan for 2025, and we welcome your input. Do you have a favorite initiative or an idea for something new? Maybe there is a way you’ve especially enjoyed connecting with this amazing community, or a program that has made an impact on you. We welcome your feedback and ideas. If you have an idea for a Research Highlight, Fish Sister Profile, or would like to become a board member, fill out the form here.
It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort behind the scenes to keep Women of Fisheries running, and we are incredibly thankful for the dedicated volunteers who make it all possible, especially our Outreach Committee. From maintaining our Facebook groups and website to writing blog posts, raising funds, and organizing meetups, your hard work is the backbone of our organization and we are so grateful for all that you do.
We would also like to extend our deepest thanks to each of YOU, our community members, who have contributed in countless ways. Whether it’s through engaging in online discussions, donating to our efforts, or sharing your ideas and work, you’ve helped build this vibrant and supportive community. YOU all are what make this organization so special, and we are grateful every day to be a part of this journey with you.
To our allies: thank you for your commitment to listening, engaging, and supporting our mission. Your dedication not only uplifts the incredible women in fisheries but also strengthens our collective efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable profession. We couldn’t do this without you, and we are so grateful to have you by our side.
2024 Highlights
– Our private Facebook discussion group now has over 1,900 members from over 60 countries, predominantly from North America (~92%).
– The 2024 fisHER Adventure Classic was our most successful fundraising event to date. Apparently, embarrassing yourself on film pays! All told, including monthly and Classic donations and Women of Fisheries gear sales, we brought in a total of $2,146.83 this year! Total expenses for the year came to $555.34.
– We awarded one Women of Fisheries Gives Back! Award thanks to funds raised during the 2023 fisHER Adventure Classic and generous recurring donations from Dr. Robert Campbell.
– We published a total of 18 blog posts, including 4 Fish Sister Profiles and 6 Research Highlights, and moderated numerous online discussions.
– Women of Fisheries blog posts have been shared in 2 issues of Fisheries magazine under the title “Amplified Voices: A Collection of Discussions from Women of Fisheries.”
– We connected at in-person meetings, including at the Honolulu American Fisheries Society (AFS) Meeting where we shared a booth with the AFS Western Division Diversity and Inclusion Committee and gave out stickers at the women affinity group coffee social.
– The Fish Sister Matchup was held just before the Honolulu AFS meeting to pair participants to expand their network and meet with each other during the meeting. Three matches were made, with students and early and mid-career professionals participating from 6 US states.
– Two virtual book club meetings were held to discuss “Codebreaker” and “Remarkably Bright Creatures.”
– Laura Slater and Kerry Flaherty-Walia gave a presentation to the Cal Poly Wildlife Club about Women of Fisheries and perspectives on the importance of gender diversity and allyship.
And most importantly, we’ve continued to grow and support each other!
However you wish to celebrate these last few weeks of the year, don’t forget to take a moment to look back on this year and see how far you have come. Together, we are moving fisheries science towards a brighter future.
Thank you for being along for the ride. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead in 2025!
Your Women of Fisheries Board,
Kerry Walia, President
Sara Turner, Vice-President
Kim Bonvechio, Secretary-Treasurer
Chelsey Crandall
Lynn Mattes
Laura Slater