Sunday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa - Destin, Florida
Please note: full abstracts will not be printed and are only available on this website. A detailed program agenda with presentation titles, authors, and scheduled times will be distributed onsite at the conference. {subject to change; as of 10/15/2014}
An Enriched North American Model of Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (NAM) is a retrospective conceptualization of the development of some elements of wildlife conservation in North America. The NAM primarily focuses on game species, with consideration of some habitats and other species. The NAM includes seven tenets, forming the core of the model and now often used to evaluate the appropriateness of actions impacting wildlife conservation in North America. The NAM is important, especially within the context of our conservation history, but is incomplete to carry our professions and society into a new conservation horizon. In this plenary session, we will discuss the NAM, the breadth and depth of our conservation future, and constructive approaches to enriching wildlife and fisheries conservation through expansion of the NAM in biological, social, economic, and political realms. Emcee: E.J. Williams, American Bird Conservancy
Shorebirds - Sunday, October 19 8:00 am - 5:00 pm As our coastline is one of our most rapidly-changing and vulnerable landscapes, careful management, monitoring, and protection of coastal-dependent species is critical to their resilience. For this reason, a symposium focused on shorebird and seabird conservation is especially fitting to this year's conference theme of “Managing for Resilience and Adaptability.” We bring you a full day of presentations by shorebird and seabird experts from throughout the southeast region, covering a breadth of topics. You will hear how species and managers are adapting to changing habitats, learn about research designed to improve species and habitat management, and find out about the conservation programs that are working to ensure these species' sustainability into the future. Click here for a schedule of presentations and abstracts within the Shorebird Symposium. Contact: Naomi Avissar, 863-648-3200, Naomi.Avissar@MyFWC.com
Mottled Duck Ecology and Management in the Southeastern United States - Sunday, October 19 8:00 am - 5:00 pm The mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) is one of only a few non-migratory Anatidae in North America and its range is restricted primarily to the southeastern United States. This species’ sedentary nature and relatively restricted distribution make its ecology and management unique. During the past decade the amount of research and conservation effort focused on mottled ducks has been high and many projects are on-going. The purpose of this symposium is to bring together people interested in the mottled duck in order to share results of science and management and to discuss past, current, and future conservation efforts. It is hoped this symposium will be a springboard for future work on this distinctive duck. Click here for a schedule of presentations and abstracts within the Mottled Duck Ecology and Management in the Southeastern United States Symposium. Contact: Ron Bielefeld, 561-722-1574, Ron.Bielefeld@MyFWC.com
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response, Research and Recovery - Sunday, October 19 8:00 am - 12:00 pm The first panel will discuss response efforts and lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Panelists from wildlife response efforts, law enforcement, natural resource response planning, and overall response effort will share their insight. A second panel will discuss restoration in the aftermath of a large-scale disaster. The panelists will provide information on watershed planning processes, coordination across various funding sources, fisheries research and restoration projects, cross-state coordination, and large scale restoration planning. Contact: Kelly Samek, 850- 617-9452, Kelly.Samek@MyFWC.com Response Efforts to a Large-scale Disaster
Restoration in the Aftermath of a Large-scale Disaster
Components of Catch-and-Release Fisheries that Influence Management Actions - Sunday, October 19 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Marine and freshwater fisheries information will be presented on how hook type, barotraumas effects, tools to reduce barotraumas, handling mortality, fishing tournaments, and high voluntary release rates influence management decisions by regulatory agencies. Click here for a schedule of presentations and abstracts within the Components of Catch-and-Release Fisheries that Influence Management Actions Symposium. Contact: Keith Mille, 850-617-9633, Keith.Mille@MyFWC.com
Human-Wildlife Conflict - Sunday, October 19 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Human-wildlife conflict management and mitigation has emerged as one of the premier challenges for fish and wildlife agencies and covers a wide range of native, non-native and exotic species and a variety of settings from rural farm areas to the urban core of major cities. From feral hogs in Texas, to nutria in Louisiana, coyote issues all over the southeast, pythons in the Everglades, and to bears at the wildland–urban interface in Florida, the issues are multi-faceted, complex and often require inter-disciplinary approaches to human-wildlife conflict management. Click here for a schedule of presentations and abstracts within the Human-Wildlife Conflict Symposium. Contact: Alex Gulde, 850-617-9652, Alexander.Gulde@MyFWC.com
Aquatic Habitat Restoration - Wednesday, October 22 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Fish and wildlife aquatic habitats are under continual threat of alteration by human activities. Habitat losses and degradation due to these activities are critical issues that must be addressed to secure fish and wildlife populations across the Southeastern U.S.A. The development of programs and partnerships to conserve and restore aquatic habitats has rapidly evolved over the last decade. This symposium provides an opportunity for leading experts in the restoration of freshwater and marine habitats to (1) highlight habitat restoration techniques; (2) discuss challenges faced in their specific habitats and how they are overcome; (3) discuss the importance and role of developing partnerships to complete restoration projects; and (4) provide an overview of restoration for specific aquatic habitats across SEAFWA states. Click here for a schedule of presentations and abstracts within the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Symposium. Contact: Wes Porak, 352-800-5014, Wes.Porak@MyFWC.com