To our Fish Sisters and Allies,
As we approach the end of another year, we enter a time of reflection. This has been a turbulent and uncertain time for fisheries professionals and the environmental field in general. Regardless, we are continuing to do the work of conservation and 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.
This year, we finished a two-year process of putting together a 5-year strategic plan, developed a work plan for 2025, and revised our bylaws accordingly. We focused on efforts that align best with our mission and identified five priority areas that now form the backbone of our strategic plan: Governance, Leadership, Membership Support and Engagement, Visibility and Amplification, and Financial Sustainability. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Strategic Plan and for our new Vision statement. 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 meet-ups, 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. Notably, even with professional challenges that our members faced in 2025, thanks to your support we have been able to sustain our working expenses this year ($1,291.63 were our total expenses and $1,937.29 were our total donations).
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.
2025 Highlights
-Our private Facebook discussion group now has over 1,900 members from over 60 countries, predominantly from North America (~92%).
-Our public facing Facebook group is steadily growing and now has 560 followers. Give the public page a follow or share with your friends to help us with visibility!
-As mentioned above, we developed a 5-year Strategic Plan, revised our bylaws, and created a Vision Statement.
-We awarded two Women of Fisheries Gives Back! Early Career Awards thanks to record-breaking funds raised during the 2024 fisHER Adventure Classic.
-We put a pause on the fisHER Adventure Classic this year in order to concentrate our support efforts towards assisting “fish sisters” that encountered unforeseeable changes in job status or financial difficulties this year. Thanks to the generosity of our community during the Fish Sisters Unite Campaign, we raised $767.05, and Women of Fisheries matched $500 to make $1267.05 available for our members. We were able to help seven members with this effort and will use the remaining funds for future Early Career Awards.
-Over the year, the Outreach Committee coordinated the “Underwater Wonders” series where we highlighted 9 species. Look for a summary of these fun facts in another blog post.
-We published a total of 17 blog posts, including 5 Fish Sister Profiles and 5 Research Highlights, and moderated numerous online discussions.
-We connected at in-person meetings, including at the San Antonio American Fisheries Society (AFS) Meeting where we shared a booth with the Equal Opportunity Section, providing attendees with stickers and information.
-Two virtual book club meetings were held to discuss “Of Time and Turtles” and “The Signature of All Things.”
-During our 7th anniversary month in July, we turned back the clocks and reposted 7 of our most popular discussions such as when to have kids, what to wear in the field, and the funniest thing a member of the public has said or done when they saw you, a woman fisheries scientist in the field.
-We held a virtual, facilitated, support group-style meeting in February for anyone that needed a bit of extra support or community.
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 even in uncertain times.
Thank you for being a part of this community. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead in 2026!
Your Women of Fisheries Board,
Kerry, Sara, Kim, Chelsey, Lynn, Sara, and Laura