The presidents of six aquatic science societies have written to President-elect Trump to offer advice and assistance as the new administration begins to tackle the many issues confronting aquatic resources in the United States. The letter was coordinated by the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies, which is comprised of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF), the Phycological Society of America (PSA), the Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS).

“President-elect Trump stated that ensuring clean water for all Americans ‘may be the most important issue we face as a nation for the next generation.’ Indeed, the issues facing the aquatic resources of the United States are numerous and complex. ASLO is committed to facilitating dialogue between scientists and policymakers, therefore we are pleased to join with our sister societies through the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS) in reaching out to the incoming administration,” said ASLO President Linda Duguay.

The letter identifies key areas of need, including:

• Ensuring the Nation’s water is clean and in good supply
• Managing sustainable fish populations for food and recreation
• Building resilient systems for our natural resources and our human communities
• Repairing the fragmentation of our Nation’s rivers and streams
• Improving and protecting the habitat of our Nation’s aquatic resources
• Maintaining the biodiversity of aquatic systems by managing aquatic invasive species, protected species, and other species of concern
• Developing sustainable aquaculture to secure America’s protein demands and support recreational opportunities
• Protecting America’s conservation heritage and the enormous economic and cultural benefits derived from outdoor recreation