FISHERIES ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES

FISHERIES ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES

40th Annual Conference of the California-Nevada Chapter

March 30-April 1, 2006

Embassy Suites, San Luis Obispo California

Conference Theme

The 40^th Annual Conference of the California-Nevada Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, "Fisheries Across International Boundaries" will emphasize the many challenges and opportunities facing fisheries management on the West Coast of North America.

The plenary session will contain distinguished local, national, and international scientists presenting a theme stressing the need for global cooperation in management of fisheries at a sustainable level. The session will integrate both the Mexican and California-Nevada Chapters in an effort to share information regarding past international activities, current issues, and future needs.

Technical sessions will cover fisheries issues across California and Nevada as well as Mexico landscapes and associated marine environments. Session topics include: South of California Fisheries Issues, Effects of Flow Fluctuations, Steelhead, Chinook salmon, Desert Fishes, Marine and Freshwater Aquaculture, Non-Native Invasives, Klamath River Fisheries Issues, Large Pelagic Fishes, Baritrauma, Introduced Trout in the Sierras,

SF Estuary Pelagic Organism Decline, Radio Telemetry, Southern California Marine Fish, and Battle Creek Restoration.

Conference Schedule

Wednesday March 29, 2006

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Field Trip

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Continuing Education – Electrofishing (classroom)

Thursday March 30, 2006

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Continuing Education – Electrofishing (field)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Continuing Education- Presentation Skills

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Bioengineering Symposium

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Tidewater Goby Symposium

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, Poster Session

5:30 PM – 10:00 PM, Social Reception

Friday March 31, 2006

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Plenary Session

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Sessions

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Job Fair (over 30 potential employers)

6:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Banquet

Saturday April 1, 2006

6:30 AM – 7:30 AM, AFS Spawning Run

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Sessions

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM, Annual Business Meeting Lunch

Continuing Education

Electrofishing: Electrofishing is an important, commonly used tool for biologists to collect a range of fishery data such as species composition, population estimates, and growth rates. Improper techniques, however, can bias results and be injurious, or even lethal, to humans and the fish they capture. Modern equipment and proper training can improve safety and data collection. Dr. Phillip W. Rieger, Smith-Root Inc.’s Director of Biology, Research and Development will teach attendees an introduction to the principles of electricity applied to capture of fish. The use of different types of equipment, Electrofishing in different environments, safety, and applying Electrofishing to bioassessments, fisheries characterizations, population estimates, or age and growth studies will be reviewed. The field demonstration will provide will provide attendees hands on familiarity with equipment operation and an opportunity to apply the classroom information. Please bring chest waders and insulated waterproof gloves. Optional equipment includes: brimmed hat, polarizes sunglasses, etc.

Presentation Skills: The course is designed to improve the attendee’s ability to provide a quality presentation. JD Wikert of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Stockton Fish and Wildlife Office will teach the course. Topics include identifying presentation goals, clearly stating the message and the selection of appropriate content. Instruction will be provided on efficient and effective use of Microsoft PowerPoint™. The course will also discuss preparing the presentation environment. Attendees may submit their (short) presentations for constructive critique by the class.

Symposia

Bioengineering: The bioengineering symposium will be a forum to discuss current issues and new technologies in fisheries engineering important in California and Nevada. Topics may include anadromous and resident fish passage at dams, water diversions, culverts, and natural barriers; fish biomechanics; dam removal; stream restoration; acoustics; and aquaculture. Time will also be available for attendees to make relevant announcements and very brief project updates.

Tidewater Goby: The tidewater goby occurs in tidal streams associated with coastal wetlands in California. Since 1900, the tidewater goby has disappeared from nearly 50 percent of the coastal lagoons within its historic range, including 74 percent of the lagoons south of Morro Bay in central California. Symposium topics include current recovery efforts, population assessments, etc.

San Luis Obispo Creek Field Trip

Brian Stark, Executive Director of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo will lead a field tour and discussion of local fish passage, revegetation, bioengineering, bank revetment, and ecological restoration projects in the San Luis Obispo area. The field trip will be from approximately 9 am to 4 pm. Includes a break for lunch. Meet in the Embassy Suites Lobby on Wednesday March 29, at 8:30 am.

2006 AFS Spawning Run - "The Garibaldi Gallop"

The Sacramento-Davis Subunit of the American Fisheries Society will be hosting a 5K (3.1 mile) run on Saturday April 1st at 6:30am. The race route will start in Laguna Lake Park across Madonna Road from the Hotel and travel on jogging paths through the park along the lake and back to the starting point. Pre-registration is available on the meeting registration form and at the meeting for the cost of $15. Pre-register to be sure that you get your size for the special edition Garibaldi Gallop race shirts. Special prizes for the first place finishers in the following groups: both Men and Women under 55, and both Men and Women 55 and older. Further details will be available in Pisces, at the meeting registration desk, or by emailing Don Portz at deportz@ucdavis.edu.

Student Presentation and Poster Awards

For the sixth straight year, the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, Northern California District, will organize and preside over the judging of student presentations at the California-Nevada Chapter’s annual meeting. AIFRB Southern California District members will join with Northern California District members to conduct the judging, but help from AFS Cal-Neva members will be much appreciated. All prospective judges, please visit the AIFRB student judging table for student presentation schedules, and to obtain presentation evaluation forms, as well as a briefing on evaluation technique. We will be offering awards for Best Student Presentation and Poster ($100 each), Best Student Presentation and Poster– Runner-up ($75), and third place for both categories ($50). Students who are presenting talks or posters during the meetings should confirm that they are on the student presentation schedule, to be posted at the AIFRB student judging table. Please see Tom Keegan (tkeegan@ecorpconsulting.com), AIFRB National Membership chair, for more information.

Accommodations

The Embassy Suites Hotel San Luis Obispo offers furnished suites with a private bedroom and separate living room with a sofa sleeper, two televisions, a refrigerator, microwave oven, and a dining/work table. Also included is a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and manager's reception each evening. The hotel is located at 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, California 93405. To register, contact Embassy Suites Hotel at (805) 549-0800. Please indicate that you are registering for the Cal-Neva 40^th Annual Meeting and Symposium.

San Luis Obispo is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, just off Hwy. 101 and is minutes from 7 championship golf courses and over 40 premium wineries. Morro Bay, approximately 20 minutes from Embassy Suites offers fishing, diving and kayaking opportunities.