The History of the North Carolina Chapter
of the American Fisheries Society
Fred Harris
In 1986, Southern Division American Fisheries Society (AFS) President and NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) Fisheries Biologist Fred Harris organized a committee of Scott Van Horn, Steve Johnson, Jim Rice, Joe Smith, & John Merriner to explore establishment of an official NC fisheries professional organization. Over the next year, he also chaired the nominating committee that identified the first six officer candidates of the newly formed NC Fisheries Workers Association (NCFWA).
 Scott Van Horn |
 Jim Rice |
Tony Mullis
In 1988, NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Tony Mullis became the first President of the group, with Scott Van Horn as President-Elect and Don Cloutman as Secretary/Treasurer and NCFWA held its first organizational meeting in Reidsville, NC. Since that time, annual meetings have been held at various locations throughout the state.
Don Cloutman
In 1989, the membership voted and the North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (NCAFS) was officially chartered on August 28th, 1990. NCFWA was dissolved as the first order of business in 1991. In November 1999, the chapter began publishing a quarterly newsletter and it continues to do so. The North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is a subunit of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. The Southern Division consists of those Society members residing in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Indian Islands, West Virginia.
Southern Division AFS Member States
