August 2021

In June, the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) held their annual meeting virtually. The session on “hot topics” also was unusual as the impact of the pandemic and other social issues were important themes. Today it seems hard to believe, but a little more than a year ago the emergence of COVID-19 changed many aspects of the way state fish and wildlife agencies operate. Most states who historically did emergency planning drills for outbreaks of animal diseases (e.g., avian flu) often questioned whether a county or community could actually be shut down in an emergency. Frequently the answer was that a shutdown was nearly impossible to envision, and the public would never accept such regulations. Today we recognize not only are such changes possible, but that agencies and their publics can adapt and innovate new processes when challenged by an actual pandemic.

For those not connected to the fishing industry, “ICAST” is short for the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades. It’s a catchy acronym and represents the American Sportfishing Association’s annual trade show where manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors, and retailers come together to show off new products and prepare for sharing them with the consumer. The show also presents the opportunity for the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, and conservation organizations to meet with the fishing industry to talk about their role in the American System of Conservation Funding.

The Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is examining how drought and climate change affect freshwater ecosystem structure and function. Drought is a natural disturbance of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in many regions worldwide and can be a major factor that impacts aquatic communities. Drought frequency and intensity are expected to increase due to climate change and can also be exacerbated by water withdrawals and other human impacts, such as agricultural and industrial uses.