SEAFWA News

The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies named the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) as the 2017 SEAFWA Diversity and Inclusion Award winner in the category of Diversity Outreach and Education at their annual meeting in Louisville this week. The AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program partners with community organizations to raise the profile and awareness of conservation within the state’s growing minority communities.

“The AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program has been providing family friendly fishing experiences in the state's more largely...

The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) named George C. Palmer the 2017 Fisheries Biologist of the Year at their annual meeting in Louisville this week. Palmer has been an aquatic biologist for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) since 2000.

“George Palmer has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the fisheries resources and the users of these resources throughout his career,” SEAFWA President Alvin Taylor said. “His efforts and outstanding reputation are appreciated beyond the borders of Virginia.”

Palmer...

The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) named Dan Gibbs the 2017 Wildlife Biologist of the Year at their annual meeting in Louisville this week. Gibbs is the Bear Program Leader for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

“Dan’s ability to analyze and interpret data then relate it to the management of a wildlife species has been instrumental in establishing bear hunt zones based on the best science available,” SEAFWA President Alvin Taylor said. “He works closely with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee National Forest,...

The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) presented CEO and President of the Archery Trade Association Jay McAninch with a special recognition award at their annual meeting in Louisville this week. McAninch has led the ATA since 2000, and a hallmark of his tenure has been the rejuvenation of the relationship between industry and the state agencies.

“Under McAninch’s leadership, the Archery Trade Association Trade Show has become the world’s biggest business event of the year in archery and bowhunting,” SEAFWA President Alvin Taylor said. “He has been...

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan partners recognized Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) retired Director of the Southern Region, Dr. Curtis Hopkins, as the 2017 National Blue-Winged Teal Award winner at the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) annual meeting in Louisville this week. The award honors extraordinary commitment to conservation and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP).

“Curtis exemplifies commitment to the conservation of North American waterfowl,” said Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Coordinator Keith McKnight. “His...

The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) presented the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Electrofishing Equipment and Safety Committee with a special recognition award at their annual meeting in Louisville this week. The ten-member team has updated and standardized electrofishing guidelines, which multiple states are adopting.

“This manual provides safety guidelines, technological updates, and equipment improvements,” SEAFWA President Alvin Taylor said. “The result is a set of guidelines that effectively builds on past recommendations.”

The Large Carnivore Working Group (LCWG) recently went public with the BearWise website (http://bearwise.org/).  The purpose of the website is to provide a forum to communicate central messages supported by SEAFWA states regarding technical information on how to avoid and address bear issues.  The expanding black bear population in the southeast necessitates helping people learn to live with bears.  The LCWG operates as a working group of SEAFWA’s Wildlife Resources Committee. 

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As a group, our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the people who have lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. Recovering from such events takes a long time. However, in darkest of days there are lights that shine brightly, and the conservation law enforcement officers of SEAFWA states are some of the brightest. Southeastern state fish and wildlife officers are very active as first responders, and states assist each other in such efforts.

When natural disasters strike, the highly trained and dedicated state agency wildlife law enforcement officers are some of the most...

Clemson University in South Carolina is excited to announce a new delivery option for its non-thesis masters in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology degree. This online program offered through the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation is for students with experience in natural resources who wish to enhance their professional degree skills. Students potentially include Federal and State Agency wildlife and fisheries employees, educators who wish to increase their knowledge about wildlife and fisheries biology, private industry professionals, and...