If you could pick one fishing lure to use for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Chances are, most of us have a few select favorites for the fish we are familiar with catching, but also know that no one lure will be the optimal choice for the 33,000+ species of fish swimming in the world’s fresh and saltwater environments. Thankfully, most of us have the freedom to load our fishing arsenals with a diverse variety of tackle adapted for multiple species and conditions.

As with fishing, the fisheries field requires a diverse and adaptable tacklebox to address a complex and unpredictable environment that, not only involves the fish, but the humans and communities that use or depend on those fish. To accomplish this, we must also have a diverse, inclusive, and equitable fisheries workforce.

The American Fisheries Society is committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Society, as well as the fisheries profession at-large. This website is part of the continued effort of the AFS Executive Committee, Equal Opportunities Section, Western Division of AFS, Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and more groups, working toward developing actions and strategies to promote underrepresented groups in the fisheries field. Explore our website to learn, watch, and listen, building your tacklebox to ensure we access all the diverse talent within fisheries!

Introduction written by Zachary Penney and edited by Lian Guo

Listen

Hear the latest episodes of the Fisheries Diversity podcast with hosts Aaron Bunch, Deon Kerr, Lian Guo, and Cassidy Miles.

Learn

Explore 10 videos about diversity and inclusion in fisheries produced for the Diversity Theme Day, organized by the AFS Equal Opportunities Section, at the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting.