AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY

NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
2000 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Bob Curry, Kim Baker, John Crutchfield, Chris Taylor, and Dave Coughlan

2001 ANNUAL MEETING - FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

Joint Meeting of the Carolina Chapters of the American Fisheries Society and South Carolina Fishery Workers Association

The 2001 NCAFS Chapter meeting will be January 17-18 at the Sea Trail Resort and Conference Center located in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. The program will include contributed papers from both North and South Carolina on any fishery-related topic. Presentations may include completed projects or works in progress.  Submission deadline is December 8, 2000.

Abstracts for presentations should be submitted electronically to Bob Curry at CURRYRL@MAIL.WILDLIFE.STATE.NC.US or on a 3.5" diskette in either Microsoft Word or WordPerfect format. Presenters are requested to provide name, affiliation, phone number, e-mail address and a brief biographical sketch for a 20-30 second introduction. Send submissions to Bob Curry, NC Chapter AFS, 2001 Program Chair, 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1721; phone -(919) 733-3633, ext. 280; Fax - (919) 715-7643.

Presenters should plan for a 20-minute program that includes a question/answer period. We urge students to attend and we are particularly interested in student presentations. Awards for "Best Paper" and "Best Student Paper" will be awarded. Look for further meeting details, program abstracts and registration information in early September on the NC Chapter web site at http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/j/jhncsu/public/NCAFSIntro.html

2001 ANNUAL MEETING - ACCOMODATIONS

The 2001 annual meeting of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is scheduled for January 17-18, 2001 at Sea Trail Resort and Conference Center in beautiful Sunset Beach, North Carolina. This year's meeting promises to be an exciting one as we share ideas and discuss management issues with our neighboring fishheads from South Carolina. We expect to have a meeting registration fee not to exceed $40 for breaks and socials. We will have those details finalized by September.

Accommodations range from a 2-person mini suite for $65 per nite to a three bedroom villa for $200 per nite that can accommodate 6-10 people. A 10% room tax will be applied in addition to the base room costs. Room reservations can be made by calling the Sea Trail Reservation Department at (800) 624-6601. Be sure to let them know that you are attending the NC/SC Chapters American Fisheries Society meeting. Room reservation cut-off date is December 4, 2000. The conference lodging and meeting facilities are outstanding and we thank Dean Cain and Wade Bales from South Carolina for making all the arrangements.

Look for further meeting details, program abstracts and registration information in early September on the NC Chapter web site at http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/j/jhncsu/public/NCAFSIntro.html
 

NC TO HOST THE 2003 SOUTHERN DIVISION MID-YEAR MEETING?

We have asked the SDAFS Executive Committee to allow the NC Chapter to host the 2003 Mid-Year meeting. Mr. Marty Hale, SDAFS President, has accepted this offer and it will be discussed at the EXCOM meeting held at the SEAFWA conference this fall in Baton Rouge.

Bob Curry is proposing the meeting be held in Wilmington, NC around February 5-9, 2003 and has a draft contract with the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. He will be finalizing the contract and will prepare a formal bid proposal to present to the Southern Division EXCOM.

We will be soliciting ideas for technical sessions from Chapter members in the future. Look for details in upcoming newsletters.

PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AND BYLAW CHANGES

The EXCOM is reviewing several proposed new sections of the Chapter Bylaws and the committee structure outlined in the NCAFS Procedure Manual. Joe Margraf, AFS Constitutional Consultant, has reviewed the Bylaws and made several helpful modifications. In the near future, a revised version (showing all editorial changes since the 1993 version) will be placed on the webpage for review by the membership. A separate e-mail will be sent out at that time letting you know that a fairly mature draft of the Procedure Manual is "on-line". We anticipate that, eventually, we will try and approve the Manual via an "on-line" ballot. We will keep you posted on this.

SCOTT WATERS RECEIVES BEST STUDENT PAPER AWARD
 

Scott Waters was recently awarded the Chapter's Best Student Paper Award on May 21st at the Graduation Reception hosted by N.C. State University at the Wake Wildlife Club. Scott received the award for his presentation entitled "Spawning season and mortality of adult largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in a tropical reservoir" which was given at the 2000 NCAFS Annual Meeting in January 2000. The award was present to Scott by Chapter President, John Crutchfield at the reception in the presence of NCSU facility, and graduating students and their families. Congratulations Scott on the best paper award and on graduating from N.C. State!

 Back to top

NCSU STUDENT SUBUNIT REPORT

Many members of the Subunit are well up to their ears in summer field research or working without the distraction of classes at completing those ever important manuscripts.  The research of our graduate membership spans from the mountains to the coast.  Jason Robinson (jlrobins@unity.ncsu.edu), the subunit graduate vice-president, is currently working with the Natural Heritage Program on an inventory program, with the goal of associating rare species with habitat types in the Jocassee Gorges State Park.  The data he, intern Mike Trussel and any volunteer that can handle the work in the wilderness are collecting will serve as a baseline to be compared with data collected after a cool-water input is installed at Lake Toxaway.  With their limited free time, Jason and Mike are also able to assist in public outreach programs with the Tennessee Valley Authority on the Kids in the Creek Program.  Several students are spending their summer on the sunny (and hot!) Carolina coast.  Trevor YipHoi (tayipho@unity.ncsu.edu) and Regan McNatt (ramcnatt@unity.ncsu.edu) are both tackling the issue of fish and shrimp growth and survival in response to hypoxia, a recurring condition in coastal estuaries this time of year.  Geoff Bell (gwbell@unity.ncsu.edu) is also interested in the response of the blue crabs to hypoxia in the field using sonic telemetry.  Chris Taylor has begun an intensive field sampling program in the Neuse River using a combination of trawls, hydroacoustics, and water quality monitoring to assess the spatial distribution of pelagic estuarine fish (millions of anchovies and menhaden) in response to seasonal and diel changes in water quality.  He also will be spending a couple weeks on Badin Lake conducting a acoustic survey of the shad population.  Rob Aguilar (raguila@unity.ncsu.edu) is awaiting the arrival of adult red drum tot he lower Neuse River.  His work focuses on comparing the use of standard hooks and circles hooks with the goals of developing a program encouraging proper hook-and-release techniques when fishing for this magnificent estuarine fish.  (Yes, to test his hypotheses requires sampling using hook-n-line under the leadership of DownEast Guide Service's George Beckwith.  He is looking for volunteers.)  All of these students are benefiting greatly from the assistance of interns from NCSU and elsewhere in the country.  Laura Lee and John Bichy are both working diligently on analyzing data on Atlantic croaker and mullet, respectively.  Both are working closely with biologists at NC Division of Marine Fisheries and the results of their work will be integral in the preparation and revision of fishery management plans for the two species.  The current membership would also like to welcome new students (and future members!)  that have entered the graduate program at NCSU.  Bill Pine will be working with Jim Rice and Tom Kwak on their flathead catfish project and Jessica Finley will be working with Rice and Pete Rand on their comparison of stripe bass populations on Lakes Norman and Badin.

We would like to congratulate the two recipients of the Student Fisheries Society-Fisheries and Wildlife Inventory and Management Camp scholarship.  Jeremy McCargo and Brian Degan each received $150 to help defray the costs of tuition and room and board while attending the camp this summer.  After completion of the camp, Jeremy will continue working with the NC Coop Unit, while Brian will move down to the coast and work with Chris Taylor for the remainder of the summer and into the fall.  Congratulations to both!

The Subunit's web page is always being updated with new information and images of the recent events and a tour of fisheries research in North Carolina currently being conducted by faculty and students at NC State. The web page can be linked from the Chapter home page or directly at http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity.ncsu.edu/users/j/jctaylo4/ncsu_afs/ .

If you have any questions or comments for the student Subunit, please contact the current president, Chris Taylor. (Phone: 919.515.8090, Email: chris_taylor@ncsu.edu, Snail-mail: NCSU Dept. of Zoology, Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE

President Crutchfield is interested in getting the Environmental Concerns Committee active again. One possible issue that may be addressed is a Chapter position statement on dam removal. Please check future newsletters for further developments.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

President Crutchfield has been the chairman of the Education Committee for several years and has organized many fine continuing education opportunities. However his current responsibilities as Chapter President will keep him extremely busy and we need to solicit a new chairman. Please contact John if you would like to assist the NC Chapter and become the chairman of the Education committee. The Education committee chairman will ". . . work in close contact with the Chapter President to provide continuing education opportunities for Chapter members in conjunction with the annual Chapter meeting. Educational opportunities for the public and user groups of North Carolina fisheries resources may also be initiated."
E-mail: john.crutchfield@cplc.com

NEWS FROM AROUND NORTH CAROLINA

John Crutchfield - Robust Redhorse Search on the Pee Dee River Successful   A cadre of biologists from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia participated in an intensive survey of the Pee Dee River for the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum) and the undescribed Carolina redhorse during late April 2000. The posse of biologist was comprised of representatives of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the N.C. Division of Water Quality, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, the University of Georgia, and Carolina Power & Light Company. The objective of this intensive survey was to determine if the Pee Dee River still supported populations of these two rare species of suckers. Sampling effort focused on the fall line zone reach of the Pee Dee River from the Blewett Hydroelectric Plant in North Carolina to Cheraw, SC. A total of six electrofishing boats spent three days intensively sampling several areas of the river looking for these redhorses as well as inventorying the resident and migratory fish fauna of the river. The survey was successful with a single female robust redhorse collected from the river in the vicinity of Highway 74 Bridge near the Blewett Plant. The fish was collected by Marla Chambers and Lawrence Dorsey with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Dr. Morgan Raley with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. Dr. Wayne Starnes with the Museum confirmed the identity of the specimen. After pertinent data were collected, the fish was tagged with floy tags and released alive into the Pee Dee River. The presence of this specimen indicates the continued existence of robust redhorse in the Pee Dee River although the size of the population is uncertain at this point.

Robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum) specimen collected from
the Pee Dee River in North Carolina on 26 April 2000.

The robust redhorse is known to maintain populations in limited portions of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, GA, and the Savannah River, GA-SC. The presence of this species in the Pee Dee River suggests other Atlantic slope drainages may hold populations of this species where it historically may have occurred. Future surveys of the Pee Dee River should help address questions of the distribution and abundance of this species in this river as well as insights into population structure and dynamics. Surveying the Pee Dee River and other Atlantic slope rivers is a research priority outlined by the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee, a consortium of state and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and power utility companies that has been involved in conservation efforts regarding the robust redhorse since its initial re-discovery in the Oconee River in Georgia during 1991.

NCSU News from Rich Noble - Among our May graduates, Scott Waters and Mike Burton got their M.S. degrees. Scott is working for Foster Pond Management in Garner; Mike continues his full-time position at the NMFS Beaufort Lab. At the Bachelor's level, two second-generation fisheries students are graduating this summer: Brian Degan and Bob Barwick. Brian will remain as a tech on the coastal fisheries project; Bob will start his M.S. at NC State with Tom Kwak.

Riparian Buffer Research News from Duke Power Company - During the summer of 2000, Scott Job, a graduate student from Duke University, is gathering data on riparian buffers in the Catawba River Basin. Riparian buffers protect and enhance streams by filtering sediment and nutrients, stabilizing the bank, and providing shade and woody debris for improved habitat. Because of the recognized watershed services buffers provide, local and state governments are beginning to legislate their protection.

Scott’s goal is to quantify buffer use on an ecosystem and catchment scale. He will rely on the expert opinions of researchers and resource managers about their knowledge of local buffer use, and will also obtain more detailed information in select areas using GIS data, aerial photographs, and field verification of land cover types. His results will be incorporated into the WARMF (Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework) water quality model. He plans to make recommendations to the developers of WARMF about how to best model buffer effectiveness and align data needs with the most likely on-the-ground implementation by regulators and stakeholders.

If you have an interest in this project and would like to exchange information on buffer use and effectiveness in your area, or if you have GIS data and/or aerial photographs of catchments in the Catawba River Basin, please contact Scott and he will reciprocate with a copy of his final report in September 2000. Scott can be contacted at 704-875-5202 or by e-mail at scjob@duke-energy.com.
 

Racing News from Lowe's Motor Speedway - Many NCAFS members graciously took time to help out at last years Speedway night social during the Charlotte AFS Meeting. When track delays slowed down the Fast Track Ride-along program, you were left without a ride (but with an extra ticket!).  It's time to use those tickets!! The Fast Track High Performance Driving School has classes at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in July and August. They will honor your tickets at noon or 4PM on the following days: Friday July 7, Sunday July 9, Friday August 25, or Sunday August 27. The rides will be given while the race school students are on lunch break or after classes are done for the day. Call Fast Track for more information (704) 455-1700.

130TH AFS ANNUAL MEETING NEWS FROM ROGER RULIFSON

The program for the 130th Annual Meeting has been finalized and will soon be up on the AFS website. Abstracts, titles and authors are already on the annual meeting website. Check your abstract and read others by going to http://www.fisheries.org/annual2000/index.htm

This year's program has several unique aspects. The plenary will feature a Missouri welcome video specially-produced for this year's meeting, with a camera's eye view of both fowl and fish! A second video will trace the history of the American Fisheries Society through its 130 years, including personal interviews with some of the icons of the fisheries profession. Dan Botkin, noted ecology researcher and journalist, will speak about the landscape ecology of the Missouri and human impacts since the Lewis and Clark expedition. The Program co-chairs, Julie Claussen (IL) and Roger Rulifson (NC), have held the technical program to 10 oral concurrent sessions. As a result, each day will feature a new Poster Session in the Pre-convene area of the Adam's Mark outside of the Trade Show. During the lunch break each day, posters will be tended by the authors and box lunches will be available in this area for conference attendees. Two of the symposia this year are poster-only, so be sure to attend the White Bass and Diverse Society symposia during the lunchtime hour. Other large symposia, especially those related to eel, sturgeon, and black bass, have a considerable number of posters to be presented during the lunch hour as well. The annual Skinner Raffle has lots of great prizes this year so don't forget your cash to get in on the action!

Entertainment, and things to see and do, will not be lacking in the "Show-Me State". The Sunday evening Welcome Reception, sponsored by Bass Pro Shop and Tracker Marine, is scheduled for Kiener Plaza, a one-block park between the Adam's Mark and Marriott hotels. Food and music will welcome you to St. Louis and AFS as you gaze skyward toward the top of the Arch along the Missouri River waterfront. The St. Louis Zoo is world-famous, and is the site for the Monday evening social. For those of you bringing the family, there are a number of kid-friendly tours offered this year. Check out the website for details. For those of you that love baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals will be in town and the ballpark is right across the street from the Marriott!

How many of us need to re-certify as Fisheries Professionals, or how many haven't been keeping up with the rapid information flow of our discipline? You may want to register for one of the 5 (yes, 5!) continuing education workshops for Sunday, August 20. Titles are: 1) Applied River Geomorphology and Biotechnical Engineering for Fisheries Biologists; 2) Cooperative Learning in Fisheries Education; 3) Fisheries Economics for Non-economists; 4) An Introduction to Decision Analysis for Natural Resources Management; and 5) The Present and Future of Minnows, Suckers and Other Ignored Fishes of North American Midwest Streams.

There is something for everyone at the 130th Annual Meeting. Travel to St. Louis from anywhere in the world is easy because of its status as a transportation hub. Check the web for special deals on airline tickets. Reservations for the Adam's Mark and Marriott are going quickly, so make your arrangements now. There are only a few government-rate rooms and student-rate rooms left, so check the website for the local hotel numbers and make that call right away. We hope to see you there!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

On behalf of all the members of the NC Chapter, I would like to take this opportunity to personally welcome the following new members:

        Mary Egbert 
        Jeremy McCargo

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Spotlight on Danielle Pender - The North Carolina Chapter would like to welcome and introduce to its members a new professional in the fisheries field, Ms. Danielle Pender. Originally from Hawaii, Danielle received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Biology from Florida Atlantic University in 1993. While working on her undergraduate degree at Florida Atlantic, Danielle also worked several part-time research jobs, most notably as an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Michael Salmon and Dr. Jeanette Wyneken. She studied sea turtle hatchling orientation and conducted offshore tracking of sea turtles on the project. As part of this research, she was co-author of a paper entitled "Behavior of loggerhead sea turtles on an urban beach. II. Hatchling orientation" which was published in the Journal of Herpetology in 1995. Danielle not only found time for her undergraduate and research assistantships during her enrollment at Florida Atlantic, she also swam on the university swim team and competed at the collegiate level in several events.

After graduation from Florida Atlantic, Danielle enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Arkansas where she studied trout dynamics. Her thesis, under the direction of Dr. Tom Kwak, was entitled "Identifying factors leading to variable trout reproductive success in Ozark tailwater rivers". Her research, presented at the 1998 Annual AFS meeting in Hartford, Connecticut garnered her an award of Honorable Mention in the Student Paper Category. She also received the prestigious Skinner Memorial Award at the 1998 AFS meeting. Danielle also presented her trout research at the 2000 annual meeting of the North Carolina AFS Chapter during January.

Since receiving her Masters Degree in 1998, Danielle has moved on to North Carolina where she is currently employed by Carolina Power & Light Company as a research assistant. She is currently involved in fisheries studies with CP&L on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River as well as other CP&L reservoirs in the Carolinas. She has recently accepted a position with NCWRC and starting July 17, she will begin her new job as the Piedmont Habitat Conservation Biologist.  The Chapter would like to welcome Danielle to the fisheries profession and to North Carolina.    (Thanks to John Crutchfield for this Spotlight.)

DONATIONS FROM THE NCAFS

In April, Executive Committee approved a request for a $200 donation to the 2000 AFS Raffle. Secretary-Treasurer Baker sent the Raffle donation and received this note from John Hudson, AFS Raffle chair.

The N.C. AFS donation arrived in the mail today. Thank you very much and be sure to thank the rest of the Chapter for their generosity. The funds will help defray costs associated with the Grand Prize vacation to Juneau, Alaska. I have found a charter boat captain willing to donate two days of fishing for two at the price of one day. The donation will pay for that trip. The package will also include a whalewatching cruise, icefield/glacier flightseeing trip, glacier viewing cruise, and much more. Thanks again for your help!!!

OTHER MEETINGS OF INTEREST

Stream Restoration & Protection in North Carolina: Building on Success - Aug. 15-17, 2000, Broyhill Inn and Conference Center, Boone, NC. The Stream Restoration and Protection Conference will provide a forum for exchanging technical information and local experiences working to improve water quality and aquatic habitat. Listen to first-hand accounts of the most successful projects and cooperative efforts in watershed management from across the state. http://www5.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/sri/Conference/

130th Annual AFS Meeting (Reflections) and Black Bass 2000 Symposium. - Aug. 20-24, 2000, St. Louis, MO. http://www.fisheries.org/annual2000/index.htm

Wood in World Rivers - Oct. 23-27, Corvallis, OR. Synthesize current knowledge of the role of wood in aquatic ecosystems and implications for planning and management. http://riverwood.orst.edu/

54th Annual SEAFWA Conference - Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2000, Baton Rouge, LA. The annual conference is held for state and federal wildlife and fish agencies personnel, conservation groups, and wildlife and fisheries students to address opportunities and challenges affecting wildlife and fisheries in the southeast. http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=606

2001 SDAFS Mid-Year Meeting - Feb. 21-25, 2001, Jacksonville, FL. This is currently just a link to the Florida Chapter home page. http://www.sdafs.org/meetings/01sdafs/2001home.htm

Fourth International Symposium on Sturgeon - July 8-13, 2001, Oshkosh, WI. To provide a forum for exchange of information and knowledge on the biology, culture and management of Acipenseriformes of the world, and to provide an opportunity for scientists, biologists, enforcement specialists and commercial interests working with Acipenseriformes around the world to communicate, share experiences and develop new research and management initiatives for the benefit of sturgeon populations and their users. http://www.sturgeonsymposium.org/

If you are aware of meeting information that would be beneficial to the membership of the NCAFS, please send it to the newsletter editor for inclusion in the next newsletter. E-mail: djcoughl@duke-energy.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is currently advertising for a Fisheries Technician III Position (# 40540).
Work Description - Advanced technical support work in fisheries management and research. Employee will conduct and evaluate well-defined phases of survey, research and management projects and assist the District Biologists through the independent collection, organization, analysis and evaluation of data. Duties are performed independently under the general supervision of a District Fisheries Biologist and are reviewed through oral and written reports. Minimum Education and Experience - Graduation from a two year technical college with an Associate Degree in wildlife or fisheries management and three years of experience in the management of wildlife or fisheries resources; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Masters degree in fisheries management is preferred. Information concerning this position can be found at the following link: http://www.osp.state.nc.us/jobs/12/by_name/

Fishery related jobs can be found on the AFS web site at: http://www.fisheries.org/jobs.html This site also offers links to job postings on non-AFS web sites.  If you have a fishery-related job opening and would like to post it in the next NCAFS Newsletter, please send your announcement to the newsletter editor. E-mail: djcoughl@duke-energy.com

VALUABLE LINKS - COURTESY OF AFS

The American Fisheries Society Home Page offers a wealth of links to assist you in your fishery endeavors. Information on ordering AFS books, public outreach, annual meetings, chapter links and joining the AFS can be found at http://www.fisheries.org/

Additional links can be found courtesy of Dr. Mike Allen and the Southern Division, AFS. http://www.sdafs.org/links/msallen1.htm

CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOP

The VA Chapter will be holding a continuing education workshop on reservoir/lake sampling design and advanced statistical techniques for fisheries data analysis.  The workshop is in September and our September newsletter would not have provided sufficient time to register and attend.  Please check out the VA Chapter webpage in the near future http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/va-afs/. 

Return to NC AFS Home Page