Glen Contreras was appointed by Chris Moffitt as Acting President of the Section. Mary Knapp continued as volunteer Secretary/Treasurer of the Section. On July 6, 2000 IFS submitted a two-year financial report to AFS HQ showing the Section’s financial activity. No problems were noted in the Section’s report.

An election committee nominated candidates, and by ballot the section elected a President, President Elect and Secretary/Treasurer. Glen Contreras is now past president. Candidates and terms are:

Glen Contreras was appointed to the 3rd World Fisheries Congress (WFC) International Steering Committee (ISC) by the Congress organizing group and will remain active in that role representing IFS. Glen Contreras and Bernard Megrey were hosted by the China Society of Fisheries as AFS representatives at the January 2000 ISC meeting in Beijing

China

. Stan Moberly could not attend. A separate summary report and ISC meeting notes are available.

Much of the sections activities centered around fund raising to strengthen AFS and IFS participation and the society participation and support of the Congress. Bob Meyer is AFS committee chair for the external WFC funding raising efforts. Internal fund raising from AFS subunits has also been successful. External efforts raised $80,000 and internal efforts raised $4,000. Subunit contributions were received by Western, Northeastern and Southern Divisions, Illinois, Arkansas, Oregon, South Carolina, Alaska, Wisconsin, Colorado/Wyoming Chapters, IFS, Fisheries Management, Computer User, Fish Health, and the Marine Fisheries Sections. Part of these funds will be used for AFS to publish the Congress proceedings.

At the request of AFS President, Chris Moffitt, the IFS president appointed Bernard Megrey and Max Stocker as co‑chairs to be supported by Glen Contreras and Dale Burkett to form an AFS Organizing Committee for the 4th World Fisheries Congress. The Organizing Committee will prepared a proposal for AFS to host the 4th World Fisheries Congress in North America during 2004. The proposal included a theme for the meeting, a general time of year, candidate venues, a provisional budget, a participating agreement, and other supporting documents, as needed for clarity..

The Governing Board voted to accept the 4^th World Fisheries Congress proposal and Gus Rassam will present the proposal at the 3rd World Fisheries Congress in Beijing, China. Upon successful acceptance of the proposal to the World Council of Fisheries Societies, the Organizing Committee will carry out all planning functions of the Congress with decision‑making responsibility for the program and implementation of Congress organization. The Organizing Committee will consult with the AFS and the International Fisheries Section at appropriate decision‑making points.

The section completed donating 5 years of AFS journals to 7 laboratories in far-east Russia. This project originated from the Oregon Chapter and Western Division as a "challenge grant" funding effort. A total of $3,500 was raised to cover the cost of the subscriptions and books. Contributions were received by the Western Division and the Alaska,, Oregon, Missouri , California/Nevada, and the Virginia Tech. Chapters. AFS HQ also contributed significantly getting two years of published journals, shipped by IFS, to add to the three year mail subscriptions. Other books and publications were distributed to meet requests that AFS and IFS receive from Africa, South America and Asia.

The Section continues to receive requests from international fisheries scientists requesting funding support to become or remain a AFS/IFS members. Under a separate proposal to the governing board the section has prepared a request to better respond these opportunities in future years. The request to modify the Carl Sullivan International membership charter was presented at the mid-year Governing Board meeting and the request was denied. The Carl Sullivan membership program will continue to be directed towards scientists from English speaking countries.

IFS and the Western Division are providing support to the "International Conference on Wood in the World Rivers” to be held in Corvallis Oregon October 23-27, 2000. Major Sponsors are the USDA Forest Service, University of Oregon, National Resource Conservation Service, the University of Washington, and other agencies and nongovernmental groups. The conference web page can be found at http://riverwood.orst.edu

IFS worked with the Fish Culture Section and the China Society of Fisheries to organize a half day SINO/US symposium for the 130^th Annual AFS meeting. This action included hosting 12 delegates from China, organizing a technical session, a welcoming social and welcoming dinner. Major sponsors and contributors included the local organizing committee, AFS headquarters, Northwest Marine Technology, and the Western Division.

The section continued to assist in an initiative to develop a framework for a fisheries society in far-east Russia. This effort is being lead by President Carl Burger in conjunction with the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation. This activity directly meets one of the main elements of Strategic Plans and the Presidents program of work regarding international outreach and improved international visibility.

Section members have been active fostering international visibility of AFS by hosting international delegates from India, Vietnam, China, Norway, Australia, Romania, Germany, Chile, far- east Russia, Nigeria, and Taiwan.

Volunteers are need for supporting activities such as increasing section membership, Bridge to Mexico project, symposia for the 131^st Annual Meeting, newsletter editor, and web page editor.

The section=s 2001 annual business will be scheduled at the 131^st AFS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Section Contacts

President

Robert M. Meyer

P.O. Box 847

Port Angeles, WA 98362

(360) 457-9532

mmeyer@olypen.com

President-elect

Bernard A. Megrey

NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

(206) 526-4147

bern.megrey@noaa.gov

Secretary/Treasurer

Mary Knapp

523 Old Wagon Rd.

Trinidad, CA 95570

(707) 822-7201

Mary_M_Knapp@fws.gov

Past President

Glen Contreras

4408 Santa Clara Ct.

Fairfax, VA 22030

202-205-0878

glenifsfish@aol.com