Upcoming Summit to Help Shape the Future of National Fisheries Data-Sharing

Measuring the condition of aquatic habitat and its impact on fish populations across wide geographic areas requires serious agency information swapping. Back in 1998, the widely acclaimed Freshwater Fisheries Database Summit established groundwork that originally helped  many fish and wildlife agencies develop  resource information systems. Now, a little less than a decade later, it's time to update these systems and look for new ways to enhance and share data.

In late October, the "National Fisheries Data Summit" will focus on a new generation of cutting edge methods that improve our ability to share information on fisheries issues.  Funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant and hosted by the American Fisheries Society in Salt Lake City, Utah (October 31- November 2), participants in this year's Summit will review the National Fish Habitat assessment process and define the availability of data at state, regional, and national scales necessary to  support local and regional fish habitat projects . In particular, the Summit will help shape information-sharing surrounding the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

"Success of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan depends upon the ability to measure results," said Eric Schwaab of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. "There is so much information out there describing the status of  fish populations  and habitat conditions. Finding and employing the best technology to make that information available to identify priority project areas and to demonstrate progress is essential to realizing the potential of the Action Plan."

Summit participants will  help to identify specific sources of data, and outline and define mechanisms and processes for assembling and transferring data. All of this will support implementation of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, an effort that is endorsed by state fish and wildlife agency directors, federal agencies, and leading nongovernmental organizations.

"It's a chance to interact with and learn from colleagues facing similar information management challenges," said Schwaab. "It will provide a chance to demonstrate information systems in your state, and gain hands-on experience with systems used by other agencies."

For more information about how you can take part in the National Fisheries Data Summit, visit www.fisheries.org/cus.