The AFS should further increase its visibility as a credible professional organization to further the social status and importance of fisheries scientists. This effort should focus on the unique message and role fisheries science plays in the development of protective, sustainable management plans. In its outreach and communication endeavors, the AFS should strive to ensure that its public policies and promotional efforts be data-based, balanced, and scientifically valid. Consider appropriate industries, agencies, interest groups, and celebrities. The Surgeon General might be a good choice for health features.
AFS president assigns to special committee.
Fisheries science and professionalism should include regularly communicating objective, science-based news to journalists. Therefore, it is important to develop the AFS as a source of science-based, politically neutral analyses for the media. Such efforts benefit the fisheries profession and resource in numerous ways, including attracting people into the profession, increasing public sympathy and commitment toward conserving fisheries resources, and publicizing important fisheries information to various users and stakeholders as well as promoting the Society. A summary of the coverage should be compiled each year for the Governing Board. Materials used could include the AFS media brochure, media-related articles in AFS publications, expanded numbers of draft press releases for unit use, assistance in planning local media campaigns, and leadership media training.