Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · 3d

Check out this week's Fisheries Podcast. I was interviewed about how things are going
@amfisheriessoc.bsky.social, and my vision for the future, working to make AFS valuable and relevant for all fisheries professionals.
fisheriespodcast.podbean.com/e/329-afs-vi...

329 - AFS' vision for the future with Executive Director Jeff Kopaska | The Fisheries Podcast

This week, Preston chats with the new Executive Director of The American Fisheries Society (AFS), Jeff Kopaska. They cover the unprecedented challenges Jeff has faced in his first year in the new role...

fisheriespodcast.podbean.com

1

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · 12d

In this week's #FishyFriday, @jeffkopaska.bsky.social discusses the 2024 winner of Best Paper in Marine and Coastal Fisheries - "Ecosystem‐level reference points: Moving toward ecosystem‐based fisheries management": fisheries.org/2025/09/best...

Best Paper in Marine and Coastal Fisheries - American Fisheries Society

Ecosystem‐level reference points: Moving toward ecosystem‐based fisheries management, by Wendy E. Morrison, Stephanie A. Oakes, Melissa A. Karp, Max H. Appelman, and Jason S. Link

fisheries.org

1 3 9

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 18d

Please enjoy my interview on the American Fisheries Society podcast. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

🧪🌎🦑🦈 #SciComm

2025 Excellence in Public Outreach Award recipient David Shiffman

Podcast Episode · AFS Beneath the Surface · 09/19/2025 · 25m

podcasts.apple.com

6 39

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · 19d

#FishyFriday

American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · 19d

In this week's Fishy Friday, @jeffkopaska.bsky.social discusses the 2024 winner of Best Paper in the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health: fisheries.org/2025/09/best...

FIGURE 1: Diagrammatic representation that depicts the process of detecting infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) by using a real‐time triplex loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. This assay employs three sets of primers totaling 18 primers, which target 24 specific regions of the IHHNV DNA within a single reaction. The optimal conditions for the assay, excluding the DNA preparation step, were identified as 63°C for 45 min. The results of the assay can be conveniently read using a portable turbidimeter.

2

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

Moira Donovan @moiradonovan.bsky.social · 26d

In the Miramichi, Atlantic salmon populations are dropping precipitously. Salmon conservation groups say the culprit is clear: striped bass. But as I explored in this story for @theguardian.com, the picture is murky, especially in a changing climate www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet’: striped bass in a Canadian river are gobbling up all the salmon. Is a mass cull the answer?

Whether to kill one species to save another has split biologists, anglers and Indigenous communities in the Miramichi

www.theguardian.com

2 1

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · 26d

#FishyFriday What allows native fish repatriations to be successful? What results in failure? The fish in question, the fish community, abiotic factors, and spatial scale-all of it.

To explore this, here is the 2024 TAFS Best Paper from @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/tafs/article...

Multiscale analysis predicts native species presence based on habitat and nonnative species abundance

AbstractObjective. The loss and degradation of aquatic habitat through fragmentation, water extraction, and climate warming contribute to declining native

academic.oup.com

4 11

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · 27d

I know that guy!

American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · 27d

I want to be optimistic...But there are immense challenges—@JeffKopaska, AFS Exec Director. From climate impacts to funding threats, our fisheries are at a crossroads. Jeff shares how to protect these resources for the future. Watch now: contentwithpurpose.co.uk/afs/tomorrow... #TomorrowsCatch

Jeff Kopaska - Tomorrow's Catch

Jeff Kopaska of the American Fisheries Society shares why science, funding, and next-gen leadership are critical to securing the future of our fisheries. Watch his story now.

contentwithpurpose.co.uk

1 1 6

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Sep 7

It is thick, and it is fishy.#Basswood 😉

1 1

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Sep 7

Duuude! Any time other than Iowa-ISU home game, I would have come up there! Hope you had a great trip. Thoughts about ISU-OSU Thanksgiving weekend...

1 1

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Sep 7

#SundayFishSketch sorry for my long absence. No fishy puzzles recently. This one is a donation for the upcoming North American Sturgeon and Paddlefish conference. My best attempt at a shovelnose sturgeon. A gift from @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social

2 5 28

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

Arkearth.org 🐝🦋 @arkearth.bsky.social · Feb 26

The Bee Brick is a mandatory addition to new construction projects in the UK. They provide tiny homes for solitary bees; the most prolific pollinators 🐝

22 130 510

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · Aug 26

1 2 2

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Aug 22

My Fishy Friday entry for this week. Enjoy!

American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · Aug 22

This Fishy Friday, @jeffkopaska.bsky.social highlights a recent #Fisheries article (with free access) about efforts to establish a National Center for Ecologically Sustainable Water Conservation and Management: fisheries.org/2025/08/esta...

Establishing a National Center for Ecologically Sustainable Water Conservation and Management - American Fisheries Society

Today’s paper reminded me of some of the sturgeon sampling I assisted with in my former role with the Iowa DNR. We would go out electrofishing (and trammel netting) for Shovelnose Sturgeon during thei...

fisheries.org

5

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

AFS Science Communication Section @afs-scicomm.bsky.social · Aug 6

Meet Kerry! She is one of three wonderful speakers lined up to present a 5-minute Lightning Talks during our session next Tuesday at #AFS155 in San Antonio.

Kerry will present her experiences communicating about water quality in the aftermath of two major hurricanes that hit Tampa Bay.

Flyer advertising lightning talks for the session “Science Communication Through Emotionally Charged Extreme Events”. Talks will be held from 1:35-1:50 on Tuesday August 12 in Rivercenter Conf Rm 9. Speaker Kerry Flaherty-Walia from Tampa Bay Estuary Program will present “Fishing After Hurricanes: is it safe to get back on the water?” Abstract: in the span of 2 weeks in 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton packed a one-two punch over the Tampa Bay Area leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Extreme storm surge and rainfall caused widespread flooding and concerns about debris and water conditions. By staying informed and engaged with regional partners, accurate and timely information was communicated to address concerns and alleviate fears.

3 8

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Aug 1

Happy Fishy Friday! I love the
collaboration in this paper. Lake sturgeon are an imperiled species. Artificial propagation is a strategy to amend populations. The results were not what the authors expected, and many more questions were raised.

academic.oup.com/naja/advance...

Effects of physical enrichment on survival, growth, and physiology of captive-reared juvenile Lake Sturgeon

ABSTRACTObjective. We investigated whether physical enrichment can be used at the captive-rearing stage to promote a more natural phenotype and better prep

academic.oup.com

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Aug 1

You all rock. Thanks for all you do!

1

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

AFS Science Communication Section @afs-scicomm.bsky.social · Jul 21

We will be hosting another student feedback session on Thursday, July 31 at 7pm CT. Students can receive feedback on how to improve their #fishscicomm ahead of their big days at the @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social Annual Meeting in the Lonestar State.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Your AFS SciComm Section will be hosting another student feedback session on Thursday, July 31 at 7:00pm CT. We encourage student members to attend and present their presentation or poster for the upcoming @americanfisheries Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX! Students will receive feedback from other AFS SciComm Section members on how to improve their presentations ahead of their big days in the Lonestar State.

Members can find a link to access the 7/31 feedback session in their email.

6 9

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Jul 26

Fishy Friday! This paper highlights an AFS symposium on Sonar Techniques. I enjoyed this paper utilizing new technology, adding to the fishery scientists toolbox. The authors identified the challenges and benefits of this approach, and Atlantic Sturgeon! academic.oup.com/tafs/article...

Using side-scan sonar to estimate the abundance of dual-spawning Atlantic Sturgeon in the Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina

ABSTRACTObjective. Abundance estimates of spawning adult Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus are needed to assess current population status a

academic.oup.com

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · Jul 15

In our latest AFS Beneath the Surface podcast, we continue our Section Roundup with a look at the Invasive and Introduced Species Section: americanfisheriessociety.podbean.com/e/section-ro...

AFS Section Roundup: Invasive and Introduced Species Section | AFS Beneath the Surface

The AFS Sections roundup continues today with an introduction to the Invasive and Introduced Species Section! Today's guest is Nathan Lederman, the Section's current president. Join us to learn about this section's history and current projects. To learn more, join their business meeting at the AFS Annual Meeting next month! Episode guest: Nathan Lederman [email protected] Learn more about the American Fisheries Society and our upcoming Annual Meeting! Comments or suggestions? Submit via email to [email protected]

americanfisheriessociety.podbean.com

3 5

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Jul 12

As you might suspect, I will be there!

1

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Jul 12

@whysharksmatter.bsky.social doing the exact same thing in natural resources/conservation

1 3

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Jul 11

Check out this video from the USFWS highlighting the roles anglers, agencies and sport fishing manufacturers play in conserving and enhancing fish populations. This one talks about Iowa, but it happens nationwide. 🎣🐟
m.youtube.com/watch?v=HBZf...

Partnering in America's Heartland for Sport Fish Restoration

YouTube video by Partner with a Payer

m.youtube.com

2 3

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

Environmental Information: Use and Influence (Dalhousie Univ.) @eiui.bsky.social · Jul 5

Conveying scientific #evidence to the public is important at individual & societal levels. But communication can be problematic. Taddicken & Thoms compared linguistic analysis & audience assessments of experts & found a human factor may affect perceptions of comprehensibility doi.org/10.3389/fcom...

Title, authors’ names, abstract, and keywords from a paper about whether scientific experts are comprehensible in addressing general audiences

1

Jeff Kopaska @jeffkopaska.bsky.social · Jun 26

We had an outstanding time representing the fisheries community, talking about important issues with Congressional offies.

Katie O'Reilly @drkatfish.bsky.social · Jun 25

Yesterday, I joined 20 other @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social members for the Society's 1st Capitol Hill Fly-in! We collectively visited 50+ Congressional offices to provide outreach about the importance of federal support for a variety of natural resource and science issues including #GreatLakes health

A group of people stand on steps outside the U.S. Capitol

1 6

Reposted by Jeff Kopaska

Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social · Jun 21

1.1 million pounds of nitrate-nitrogen will pass through the city of Cedar Rapids today in the Cedar River. That's equivalent to the contents of 322 of these. One day, one river, in Iowa.
waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_0...

25 130 360