2026 is 50 Years for the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society!

The 2026 Texas Chapter AFS Annual Meeting and 50th Anniversary Celebration will be in January 15th-17th, 2026 at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Conference Center, in Galveston, Texas.  Stay tuned to our website and listserv for update.

 

COMING SOON!

Schedule at a Glance, Registration and Hotel Information, Student Travel Award

Call for Abstracts

The 2026 TCAFS Annual Meeting will be held January 15-17 at Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston, TX, and we are looking forward to a great meeting. To maximize the number of oral presentations that may be presented, we will be running two concurrent sessions. Oral presentations will be 15 minutes for the talk, 3 for questions, and 2 for movement between rooms. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations will be due December 5, 2025. Deadlines are firm, and no extensions will be given. Authors will be notified of abstract acceptance by December 31, 2025. Don’t wait for the Fall to slip by and start your abstracts now! As a reminder, abstracts should be less than 300 words, and you will need the names and affiliations of each author on the paper.

Submission URL: Abstract Submission Link

Please visit the annual meeting page to submit your abstract and for more information regarding abstract submissions. For additional questions, email Kelley Kowal (kelley.kowal@tpwd.texas.gov.)

Texas Chapter Student Scholarships

The 2026 Call for Student Scholarship applications is closed. If you have any questions about the status of your application, please contact Jennifer Butler – Scholarship Committee Chair at (979) 341-4972 text or by email at Jennifer.Butler@tpwd.texas.gov

TCAFS OFW and Best Student Subunit Awards

It’s time to recognize the incredible people behind the work that keeps Texas fisheries thriving! We invite you to nominate a colleague, student, or organization for the Outstanding Fisheries Worker of the Year (OFW) Award, one of the highest honors presented by the Chapter.

This award highlights exceptional contributions to fisheries-related work in Texas across multiple categories, including: Fisheries Administration, Fish Culture, Fisheries Education, Fisheries Management, Fisheries Research, Fisheries Technical Support, Fisheries Student, and Special Recognition in Fisheries Work.

Nomination Deadline: January 1, 2026
Submit Your Nomination: 2026 Nomination Form
Best Student Subunit: 2026 Best Student Subunit Nomination Form

Eligibility Requirements:

• Both the nominator and nominee must be TCAFS members.
• Exception: For the Special Recognition in Fisheries Work category, only the nominator must be a TCAFS member. This category may honor an individual or an organization.

Help us celebrate the dedication, innovation, and impact of those advancing fisheries work across Texas. Nominate someone today!

Calling All Artist – 2026 Call for Raffle Items

The TCAFS Publicity and Exhibits Committee is casting our net for artists interested in donating their creations to the January 15 – 17, 2026, meeting!

In past years, contributions have included paintings, pottery, crocheted and knitted pieces, woodwork, papier-mâché sculptures, leather goods, and so much more. We’d love to reel in even more of the incredible talent within our fisheries community in the new year. Anything can be donated, but people are sure to bite for fish-themed art!

Proceeds from the raffle and auction benefit the TCAFS Student Scholarship Fund, so every piece helps support the next generation of aquatic scientists. Let’s make the 2026 exhibit our most creative yet. Remember, it’s for the kids! If you’d like to contribute, please drop off your work during the first day of the conference (no pre-approval needed). The location and time will be provided in the upcoming TCAFS 2026 Meeting Program. If you have any questions, please reach out to Thea Fredrickson at anthea.fredrickson@lcra.org.

Want to Sponsor our 2026 “50th Anniversary Meeting”?

If you would like to be a sponsor for the 2026 Annual Meeting and 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Please contact our Publicity & Exhibits Co-chairs Thea Fredrickson (Anthea.Fredrickson@LCRA.ORG) and Zoe Nichols (Zoe.Nichols@LCRA.ORG)