The mission of the American Fisheries Society is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals.
The AFS Tidewater Chapter (TAFS) encourages the exchange of information by those residing, working in, or having a professional interest in the estuarine and coastal fisheries of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the States of Maryland and North Carolina. We are committed to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion by proactively recruiting, retaining, and
preparing a diverse workforce; and engaging and serving communities that are representative of the populations within our region.
The oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) is the official logo and mascot of the Tidewater Chapter of AFS. And, as you might expect, there is a story behind how that all came to be.