A Brief History of the AFS International Fisheries Section 1987–2016: Past, Current, and Future Bridge‐Building

The precursor of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) International Fisheries Section (IFS) was a Special Committee on AFS Internationalism, which was formed by Past President Cam Stevenson in 1975 to stimulate greater international communication via symposia, joint meetings, and articles in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society and Fisheries (see Box 1). This committee also considered the feasibility of forming an AFS international subunit, a more inclusive name for the Society, a Mexican chapter, publishing journal abstracts in Spanish and Portuguese, publication donations, sponsoring AFS memberships, and formal liaisons with other professional fisheries societies. In 1986, the Internationalism Special Committee focused on establishing an international fisheries section, discussing the feasibility of a world fisheries congress, establishing an international fisheries scientist award, and increasing communication with fisheries scientists in developing countries. The IFS was formed in 1987 to expand and gain recognition for multiple international activities envisioned by Society leaders, with most efforts focused on organizing joint symposia with international scientists (see Box 1), supplying their libraries with books and journals, and encouraging their membership and participation in AFS. Current funding for all Section activities is derived from member dues (US$5 per year) and the Carl R. Sullivan International Fisheries and Developing Countries Endowment Fund. The Carl R. Sullivan Memorial Membership