The general objectives of the International Fisheries Section are those of the American Fisheries Society as set forth in the Society's Constitution. The specific objectives are:

(a) to support and promote Worldwide fishery educational, organizational, and research efforts;

(b) to increase North American fishery scientists’ awareness of the interests, needs and contributions of their colleagues worldwide;

(c) to increase awareness and cooperation of the American Fisheries Society and its members in international fisheries;

(d) to assist the international exchange of information, including the provision of technical advice, among fishery workers of all nations.

Membership in the International Fisheries Section shall be open to all members in good standing of the American Fisheries Society and individuals or institutions who pay the annual dues. AFS members are designated General Members with the full privileges including voting rights and rights to hold office. Non‑AFS members are designated Affiliate Members with all privileges except tile right to vote and hold office.

The officers of the Section shall be the President. President‑elect and the Secretary-Treasurer.

(a) All officers shall be elected for a term of two years. New officers will be installed at the annual meeting. Officers serve without salary or other compensation for their services. Expenses may be defrayed from funds available to the Section when authorized by the Executive Committee.

(b) No officer shall hold the same office for consecutive complete terms except the Secretary‑Treasurer who may hold office for two consecutive terms.

(c) Candidates for office will be nominated by a nominating committee. Mail balloting shall he completed at least one week before the annual meeting of the Section. Officers shall be elected by it majority of the returned mail ballots.

(d) In the event of a vacated position, the Executive Committee shall appoint a qualified replacement for the remainder of the term.

(a) President: The President shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee of the Section and shall preside at the business meetings of the Section, appoint all committees and serve as an Ex Officio member thereof. The President shall represent the Section as a member of the Society's Executive Committee and perform other duties and functions as authorized and necessary.

(b) President-elect: President-elect shall perform the duties of President in the absence of the President, assume the office of the President in the event that the office is vacated and accede to the Presidency upon completion of the term of President-elect.

(c) Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary‑Treasurer shall keep the official records of the Section,maintain a current list of the Section membership, submit a copy of the minutes of the annual business meeting to the Executive Director within 30 days after said meeting, collect and be custodian of Section funds, disperse funds as authorized by the Executive Committee, submit a record of receipts and disbursements at the annual meeting, and perform other duties as may be required by the Executive Committee.

The Section shall hold at least one business meeting annually at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee. Special meetings may be called by the President with the advice and consent of the Section's Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and the immediate Past President of the Section. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to determine policies and conduct business consistent with the objectives of the Section. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at the call of the President when a majority of the committee members can meet and conduct business. Business and voting by the Executive Committee may be conducted by mail.

Decisions at business meetings and on behalf of the Society shall be in accordance with the Constitution of the Society. A quorum at business meetings shall be 15 members of the Section. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all applicable cases not covered by these bylaws.

The Executive Committee may assess those attending a meeting of the Section a registration fee as provided for by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. The annual membership fee shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by a vote of the membership. Expenses of officers may be defrayed from funds available to the Section when authorized by the Executive Committee.

The following standing committees composed of Section members in good standing shall be appointed by the President together with their chairpersons. Chairpersons shall be general members. Standing committees shall assist the President and Executive committee in the conduct of the affairs of the Section.

(a) Membership. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for maintaining and increasing the membership of the Section, and shall take appropriate measures to attract new members. The Committee shall consist of the Chair. Secretary‑Treasurer and other Section members appointed by the President.

(b) Nominating. The Nominating Committee shall name a slate of at least two candidates for each Section office of President‑elect and Secretary‑Treasurer, and organize the election. The Chair and two other members shall be appointed by the President. The President serves on this committee as an Ex Officio member.

(c) Mail Ballot Tally. The Mail Ballot Tally Committee shall count the ballots for all elections by mail and announce the results to the President within 30 days following the closing dale of the election. All ballots shall he turned over to the President and retained for 90 days after the annual meeting. The President shall appoint a chairperson and two other members living in the geographic proximity to facilitate vote tally.

(d) Technical Program. The Technical Program Committee shall be responsible for developing a technical program for the annual meeting. The Committee shall develop the theme, solicit contributions, and issue instructions to contributor on techniques of presentation and preparation of visual‑aid materials. The Committee will consist of the Chair, and additional members as are necessary. The Chair shall coordinate plans with the Society Program Chair when the Section and Society meetings are held jointly.

(e) Newsletter. The Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for producing the Section's newsletter. The Committee may issue standards and instructions to the membership to facilitate its work and solicit contributions. The Committee shall consist of the Newsletter Editor, President, and other Section members as necessary and appointed by the President.

The Bylaws of the Section may be amended by a vote of 2/3 of the Section members voting on the amendment and by subsequent approval of the Society's Executive Committee in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. The membership shall be notified in advance of the amendment.