By Patrick Cooney

I asked 8 questions to Marlis Douglas and Lori Martin, the two 2024 Candidates for the position of 2nd Vice President of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). The person who prevails in the election will serve on the Governing Board of AFS for at least 5 years and will Ascend to serve as the President of AFS in 4 years.

If you are interested in voting for one of these candidates and joining the American Fisheries Society, please follow this link.

Question 1: What is your earliest memory with a fish?

Marlis Douglas: I was around 5 years old, playing in an Alpine Lake in Switzerland. I loved being in the water all day, swimming around with my head under the surface looking for fish, wearing small fins and a mask (no snorkel! – my mom was terrified I would choke while diving). Then I saw a group of ‘big fish’ and tried to chase after them. The fish effortlessly swam away from me into deeper water. But I was not ready to give up the chase. So, I went after them, swimming as fast as I could, diving deeper and deeper. Suddenly I realized the water was very cold and dark, and I just didn’t float anymore – it was scary. I struggled back to surface where it was warm and sunny. And no, I did not tell my mom. And I was ‘hooked’ –  fish became the focus of my professional career.

Lori Martin: I’m not quite sure what my earliest memory is with a fish specifically, but I do remember several fishing trips with my family during my younger years.  I was either three or four years old at the time and Dad, Mom, and I were fishing from our boat on Toledo Bend Reservoir (straddles the Texas-Louisiana state line).  I had my favorite pillow with me so I could catch a snooze if the fishing action was slow.  Sure enough, that was the case, and Dad decided we were headed to a new fishing spot.  I wasn’t paying attention apparently, and my cherished pillow flew out of the boat.  I’ll never forget the image of my pillow sinking faster than we could get to it.  Dad and Mom tried to soothe me by saying the “fishies” now had a new, soft bed to sleep on.  After fishing all day, we headed into town that evening to buy a new pillow!

Question 2: What is your favorite fish and why?

Marlis Douglas: Fish are like children – I love them all! But among my favorites is the Desert Pupfish because it showed me how tenacious life is – a small fish persisting in an unlikely place, adapted to extreme conditions. European Perch introduced me to the magic of early life history – as barely a tail with two eyes, but some survive despite the odds. Alpine Whitefish (Coregonus) taught me that details matter and can reveal the fascinating diversity of species flocks. Humpback Chub defied my notion of what a ‘minnow’ can be – growing large, old, and powerful. Not a little wimpy fish at all! And Snowtrout in the Himalayas, another strange minnow that allows me to share my passion for fish and conservation while working with young fisheries biologists in Southeast Asia.

Lori Martin: That’s a great question.  When I was mentioning this to my husband, he asked “to eat”?  My seven-year old nephew’s response at first was “Bluegill”, followed by “sharks”, and then finally “Swordfish”.  So, there are a lot of different ways to answer this.  From a delicacy standpoint, I savor panfish, Walleye, salmon, and grouper meals.  Of course, I also love to stalk Bonefish and Redfish on the flats, cast dry flies to unsuspecting trout, and ice fish for any species that bites!  From a conservation perspective, I hold a special place in my heart for the unique and lesser-known native nongame fish species of the Colorado River basin, including the Colorado Pikeminnow; Razorback, Bluehead, and Flannelmouth suckers; and Bonytail, Humpback and Roundtail chubs. 

Question 3: What is the piece of fish research you have conducted that you are most proud of?

Marlis Douglas: My research is highly collaborative, and I am most proud of the instances where I learned by listening as a team member, combining unique perspectives, and expanding our collective mind to generate actionable solutions. My favorite example is our genetic assessment of Flannelmouth Sucker across its entire range in the Colorado River. It taught me not to make assumptions, be humble and open-minded, and to consider alternative interpretations, even from unexpected sources.

Flannelmouth Sucker is widespread, relatively abundant, has existed for millions of years, and thus we expected a lot of genetic diversity. But our data showed hardly any variation and we were stumped how to interpret those results. The solution came from an engineer who was brilliant at analyzing data but did not understand much about fish. His insistence on ‘Let the data tell you the truth!‘ ultimate led us to discover that an historic mega-drought about 8,000 years ago had provoked a range-wide population crash, with the bottleneck eliminating genetic diversity. The species since recolonized the basin and is now widespread again. So, from a contemporary perspective, the species is thriving. But in an evolutionary context, the study revealed how vulnerable fish are to large-scale environmental challenges. Thus, it is a cautionary tale about how past events still reverberate in today’s seemingly resilient populations.

Lori Martin: Most of my career has centered on the management side of fisheries in contrast to research.  One of the most rewarding projects that we successfully completed involved balancing sportfishing opportunities in Rifle Gap Reservoir (in NW Colorado) with conservation efforts for riverine native nongame fish species downstream.  We collaborated with multiple stakeholders, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, and local anglers to design and build a fish screen within the stream channel downstream of the reservoir, precluding reservoir escapees from negatively influencing native fish communities.  The successful operation and maintenance of the fish screen coupled with a federal and multi-state approved fisheries management plan allow Colorado Parks and Wildlife to provide reservoir fishing options for angler-desired species such as Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and sterile Walleye that are compatible with native fish conservation efforts.

Question 4: What is your favorite role you have played in AFS and why?

Marlis Douglas: My favorite role is my current one as co-chair of the AFS Strategic Positioning Committee (SPC), because it brings together all of my experiences within AFS and allows me to assist the Society and its members in building a successful future! The purpose of the committee is to engage members of all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives in considering what AFS will be in the future. As a society – what are we good at and where do we want to go? This resonates with our younger members and has re-energized those of longer-term. It is indeed exciting! If you would like to know more, and to be part of this effort, then attend one of the FUTURECASTING workshops organized by the SPC this spring – also, watch for our upcoming article in Fisheries.

Lori Martin: I have been fulfilled through my experiences in various AFS roles, particularly those in the leadership arena within my home Colorado-Wyoming (CO-WY) Chapter and Western Division.  One of my more gratifying AFS positions in recent years includes serving as the Archivist for the CO-WY Chapter.  Our history provides us with an appreciation for the past and perspective for the present and future.  When browsing through the Chapter’s archived materials, I enjoy tracking our members through time, as well as researching various milestones and sharing with our membership and officers.

Question 5: What is one accomplishment you hope to make in your time as AFS President?

Marlis Douglas: I want to help AFS leverage its ‘superpower’ to achieve success. And this superpower is the diversity of disciplines, professional trajectories, and demographics represented among AFS members. While some might perceive this as a challenge, it is to me what makes AFS unique and endows it with a powerful combination of knowledge, expertise, and experiences. My goal is to help AFS harness this enormous capacity by implementing Strategic Positioning as a framework that guides AFS towards success. Our implementation tools are: Adaptive planning (via Futurecasting); Effective communication (using ABT Narrative Structure), and; Leadership principles (Extreme Ownership Framework).

Lori Martin: One of the most important endeavors to me is to accelerate our approaches for conveying the significance of aquatic science in understandable terms to those around us.  Successfully communicating the relevancy of AFS and our pertinence to global environmental conservation is urgent.  As an elected officer within the AFS leadership team, I look forward to advancing our knowledge of the most effective means by which we can capture society’s attention and trust.  Measuring our accomplishments and documenting these achievements will prove beneficial to current and future generations. 

Question 6: What would you say to someone who asks you why they should join AFS?

Marlis Douglas: Consider AFS membership as a professional ethos – being part of something larger than yourself. It amplifies the impact you as an individual can have, and emphasizes the issues you care about, whether they are recreational fishing opportunities, fish conservation, or outreach and education. As an AFS member, you are part of a team. You gain allies who help you accomplish your mission, mentors who help you grow professionally, and students who benefit from your expertise and knowledge. It’s an investment in yourself – and the future of fisheries. Join AFS – be part of it. Be part of us.

Lori Martin:  I urge those interested in joining AFS and who may not have attended an AFS event, to do so and see for themselves.  In my biased opinion, you cannot go wrong!  The American Fisheries Society is a family of students, early-career professionals, and well-established scientists.  Investing in this community presents priceless, educational connections with colleagues around the world, and sparks conversations, camaraderie, and contagious action for the passion we all possess.  If you want to be inspired, check out the list of AFS Golden Members, and seek those 300+ dedicated supporters of AFS for 50 years or more! 

Question 7: What would you say to a long time AFS member who asks what they could do to get more involved and have a big impact on AFS?

Marlis Douglas: The biggest impact you can have is to help others succeed. First, evaluate what you already do – and then consider how you can amplify it. Often, it’s those little things we do and may even consider ‘unimportant,’ but which can make a huge difference for another member. Leverage your network of professional connections built over a long career by providing opportunities for younger members. Share your extensive knowledge by teaching an AFS workshop or webinar. Invite a junior member to co-host the webinar, combining your fisheries expertise with their tech-savviness to engage early career professionals. Volunteer for AFS committees and stand for election as a Section or Division officer. Do not hesitate to self-nominate – this effectively states: ‘I want to do the work!’

Lori Martin: Our seasoned members are our foundation, and we are fortunate for their expertise and willingness to share their stories and wisdom.  I encourage all AFS members, including veteran participants, interested in becoming more involved and impacting AFS positively to pursue those opportunities that appeal to and ignite their passions.  I firmly believe that we do our best work when we are fully engaged in efforts with personal significance to us.

Question 8: What question should I have asked but didn’t, and what is your answer? 

Marlis Douglas: Why am I enrolled in leadership training taught by ex-Navy SEALs? Because I realize my scientific skills were insufficient to effectively lead, and to help others succeed, I needed training and daily practice to improve my communication and leadership skills. So, I decided to pursue training provided by ex-Navy SEALs because they are best at both building and leading teams and dealing with uncertainty. I am enrolled in weekly live-trainings and completed several in-person workshops and on-demand courses to earn my certifications. I now feel ready to help AFS succeed. My guiding principle – think outside the box and adopt the best approaches from other disciplines to promote a successful future for AFS.

Lori Martin: In addition to the above questions, what about including one relative to “What are your hobbies or what appeals to you outside of AFS”?  Learning more about one another beyond our mutual interests with AFS is exciting and enhances our relationships.  On that note, beyond “all things fish related”, I enjoy traveling, camping, whitewater rafting, upland bird hunting, golfing, keeping up with my genealogical roots, following college sports along with professional baseball and football, experiencing outdoor concerts, and sharing time with family and friends.

Thank you

A huge thank you to Marlis Davis and Lori Martin for their time answering these questions as well as their time and commitment to the American Fisheries Society.

For more information, please listen to the candidates on The Fisheries Podcast

https://fisheriespodcast.podbean.com/e/249-part-2-meeting-the-candidates-2024-dr-marlis-douglas

https://fisheriespodcast.podbean.com/e/meeting-the-candidates-2024-part-1-with-lori-martin