New Frontiers in the Management, Status, and Biology of Western Native Freshwater Fishes

The freshwater fish fauna of western North America is generally depauperate; however, there is a high degree of endemism in isolated drainages.  The western North America fish fauna consists primarily of members of the families Salmonidae, Cyprinidae, Catostomidae, and Cottidae.  While many of the members of the family Salmonidae have received considerable attention, less research effort has been directed at other freshwater fishes.  As western North America becomes more developed, the status of many of our western native freshwater fishes has become questionable.  Information on management, status, and biology of all native freshwater fishes is critical for conservation and restoration.  Our primary objective of this symposium is to bring forth previously unpublished information on the management, status, and biology of western native freshwater fishes.  A similar symposium was held in 2004 at the Western Division AFS meetings, and we wish to compliment that work with new information on species previously discussed and information on others not yet covered.  Also, we hope to have more management talks to discuss what is currently being done to restore depleted populations.  We plan to include presentations on native freshwater species other than anadromous salmonids, bull trout, or lamprey (these will be covered in other symposia).  We have included talks from a broad geographical area, from central Mexico to southern British Columbia.  We believe this type of symposium will be valuable to a wide fisheries audience and provide a foundation for a broader ecosystem perspective.  This symposium will also contribute to a larger effort by the Western Division Native Fishes Committee to review and document the conservation status of all native freshwater fishes within western North America.