Nominations for 2026 National AFS Awards 2026 closed April 1, 2026.
Award winners will be contacted beginning June 2026, with awards presentations held during the 2026 Annual Meeting in Columbus Ohio (August 30-September 3, 2026).
The American Fisheries Society (AFS) presents awards to its members and partners for unique contributions that directly or indirectly impact fisheries science. Each year there is a call for award nominations recognizing professional excellence and/or outstanding contributions to conservation, education, and service.
To be eligible, applicants must be current AFS members. To join or renew your membership, visit https://fisheries.org/membership/join/
To submit a nomination:
- Review the award eligibility and requirements on the AFS Awards & Recognition webpage. Note that each award may have a different series of requirements. It is recommended to email a copy of the nomination to the listed contact on the award page.
- Ensure you have the following information about the candidate:
- Candidate’s name
- Full contact information
- Biographical information
- Qualifications for the award and/or history of service to the Society.
- Write a short Letter of Nomination (Cover Letter) (2 pages max) describing why this colleague is deserving of the specific award.
- Letter should include the title and contact information for both the nominator and the nominee.
- Letter should include the title and contact information for both the nominator and the nominee.
- Optional Supporting Documents: Gather a nominee’s CV/resume (4 pages max) and Letters of Support (2 pages max) from employers, fisheries professionals, or AFS members/officers endorsing the nominee.
- Navigate to the AFS Awards & Recognition Platform.
- Select “Enter” under the “AFS Awards” Category.
- Log in or register. Enter your information. Note that this information may be different from your AFS login information.
- Under “My entries,” select “Start entry.”
- Select “AFS Awards” under the Awards dropdown menu. Enter your full name in “Submitter’s name.”
- Fill out forms and upload required documents. Submit.
Nominations closed Tuesday, April 1, 2026 (11:59 pm ET). Award recipients will be announced August 10-14, 2026 at the 156th Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. For questions about awards or the nomination process, reach out to AFS staff by email to Lauren Maza at lmaza@fisheries.org (for AFS awards) and Ashley Berniche at aberniche@fisheries.org (for the Hutton program). The 2026 AFS Award categories are listed below.
AFS Award Categories
Please refer to the AFS Awards & Recognition webpage for eligibility, selection criteria, and application requirements.
Awards of Merit
| Award of Excellence The Award of Excellence is the Society’s highest award for scientific achievement. It is presented to a living AFS member for original and/or outstanding contributions to fisheries and aquatic biology. |
| Emmeline Moore Prize This award, named after the first female AFS president, Emmeline Moore (1927-1928), recognizes efforts of an individual member in the promotion of demographic diversity in the society. This award will be presented to an AFS member who demonstrates strong commitment and exemplary service to ensuring equal opportunity access to higher education in fisheries and/or professional development in the broad range of fisheries science disciplines. |
| Excellence in Fisheries Education Award The American Fisheries Society’s Excellence in Fisheries Education Award is administered by the Education Section and is presented to an individual to recognize excellence in organized teaching and advising in some aspect of fisheries education. Nominees may be involved in extension or continuing education, as well as traditional college and university instruction. Nominees must be AFS members, have been actively engaged in fisheries education within the last five years, and have had at least 10 years of professional employment experience in fisheries education. |
| Excellence in Public Outreach The Award for Excellence in Public Outreach is presented to an AFS member who goes the “extra mile” in sharing the value of fisheries science/research with the general public through the popular media and other communication channels |
| AFS Fellows Program The American Fisheries Society designates certain members as Fellows of the Society; these members have made outstanding or meritorious contributions to the diversity of fields that are included in AFS. Contributions can include, but are not restricted to, efforts in leadership, research, teaching and mentoring, resource management and/or conservation, and outreach/interaction with the public. |
| Student Writing Contest* Presented to a graduate or undergraduate student who submits an outstanding short report (500-600 word article) about their original research that combines scientifically-sound writing with an appeal to a general audience. The winning article will be published in Fisheries Magazine following the AFS Annual Meeting. Applications are ranked using a rubric and selected by a committee of the AFS Education Section. *Application for this award is not available on the portal. See linked requirements for information on how to apply. |
Awards for Service to the Society
| Doug Austen Meritorious Service Award The Meritorious Service Award, first presented in 1986, is awarded annually to an individual AFS member for loyalty, dedication, and meritorious service to the Society over a long period of time and for exceptional commitment to the programs, objectives, and long-term goals of the Society. The Meritorious Service Award was renamed in Doug Austen’s honor in 2024, upon his retirement as the Executive Director of the American Fisheries Society. |
| Distinguished Service Award The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1980 and recognizes outstanding contributions of time and energy for special projects or activities by AFS members. A single member, a group of members, and AFS staff are eligible candidates. |
| Outstanding Chapter Award (Chapter Awards) The Outstanding Chapter Award recognizes outstanding professionalism, active resource protection, and enhancement programs, as well as a strong commitment to the mission of the Society. Awards are presented in three different categories: –Large Chapter (more than 100 members) –Small Chapter (fewer than 100 members) –Student Subunit |
Conservation Awards
| Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award The Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award, known as the “Sully,” was created in 1991 and was first award to Carl Sullivan shortly before his death. It is award annually in his memory. It is presented to an individual or organization, professional or nonprofessional, for outstanding contributions to the conservation of fishery resources. Eligibility is not restricted to AFS members, and accomplishments can include political, legal, educational, scientific and managerial successes. Nominations should include a synopsis of fishery conservation contributions; a description of the influence of those contributions on improved understanding, management, or use of fishery resources. |
| President’s Fishery Conservation Award The President’s Fishery Conservation Award, established in 1995, is presented in two categories: (1) an AFS individual or unit, or (2) a non-AFS individual or entity, for singular accomplishments or long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation at a regional or local level. The award is administered by the Past President’s Advisory Council. |
| William E. Ricker Resource Conservation Award The William E. Ricker Resource Conservation Award, established in 1995, is given annually, if warranted, to an individual or organization for a singular accomplishment or long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation at a national or international level. The award is administered by the Past President’s Advisory Council. |
| Stanley A. Moberly Award for Outstanding Contributions in Fish Habitat Conservation The Stanley A. Moberly Award for Outstanding Contributions in Fish Habitat Conservation was established in 2019 to annually recognize efforts of as many as three individuals, groups, or projects with an outstanding, long-term record of success in research, management, policy, communications, education, or other fields that support fish habitat conservation. To be eligible for this award, nominees must have been actively engaged in conservation-related fish habitat activities for at least 20 years of professional experience in freshwater, coastal, and/or marine systems. |
Scholarships & Fellowships
| Emerging Leaders Mentorship Award (ELMA) The ELMA Program supports AFS members with strong potential for future leadership within the Society. Open to members in good standing, including students and professionals across all fisheries career paths, the program offers mentorship, a service project opportunity, and participation as a non-voting member of the AFS Governing Board. Recipients are selected based on their commitment to AFS and leadership promise. |
| J. Frances Allen Scholarship Award The scholarship fund was established with the intent of encouraging women to become fisheries professionals. The qualified applicant must be a female Ph.D. student conducting aquatic research in line with AFS objectives and be an AFS member as of December 31, 2025. The award recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship and there are no restrictions on the use of the funds. |
Travel Awards
| John E. Skinner Memorial Travel Fund The John E. Skinner Memorial Fund was established in memory of John Skinner, former California-Nevada Chapter and Western Division AFS President. The fund provides up to $1000 in monetary travel awards for deserving graduate students or exceptional undergraduate students to attend the AFS annual meeting. |
| Retired Members Travel Award This travel award was established to encourage and enable retired members of the Society to attend Annual Meetings, particularly those members who might play a more active role in the meeting. A maximum of $1,500 may be awarded for reimbursable expenses. |
Section-Level Awards & Travel Grants
| Many AFS Sections offer additional award programs and travel funding. Refer to each Section’s webpage for additional information, requirements, and deadlines. Recent Section Award Recipients, informal certificates of appreciation for service, and other awards are given each year as well. |
Last updated April 2026. Spot an error, missing info, or broken link? Contact NED-AFS Webmaster Sarah Hudak at shudak@searisksolutions.com.
