The Georgia Chapter AFS plans workshops to benefit fisheries professionals and students. Members of the Georgia Chapter AFS pay a discounted rate for our training workshops.

Have you been asked to facilitate a training workshop? Check out these guidelines for some tips as to how you can keep your participants engaged and provide a memorable learning experience for everyone.

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2023 WORKSHOPS

Workshop title: ggplot for data visualization (half-day)

  • When: February 14, 2023 (8:30 am – 12:00 pm)
  • Where: Lake Blackshear Resort, Cordele, Georgia
    • The Chapter has a block of rooms at Lake Blackshear Resort at a discounted rate on Monday, February 13, 2023. Visit the annual meeting hotel reservations page for more details. https://gaafs.org/2023-hotel-reservations/
  • Facilitator: Dr. Brian Irwn (Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit)
  • Registration: Georgia AFS ggplot Workshop Registration Form
  • Description
    • This course will provide opportunities to construct publication-quality graphics using ggplot in R and RStudio.  It is intended for students and professionals interested in visualizing data and implementing analyses in a freely available, flexible coding platform.  We will describe the associated code in detail; however, having a working knowledge of R and basic fisheries concepts would be beneficial (but not required).  We intend to provide a brief overview of making graphs using ggplot2 as well as practice examples.  Each participant should bring a laptop with current versions of R & RStudio as well as the ggplot2 and tidyverse packages already installed. 
  • Special Note
    • This workshop will take place the morning prior to the start of the Georgia AFS 2023 annual meeting. The workshop is free for those who register for the annual meeting. For those of you who are only able to attend the workshop, the cost is $25 for Georgia AFS members and $35 for non-members. Registration for the workshop will include the Tuesday annual meeting events that afternoon (keynote speaker, presentations, and trivia social). Contact Rebecca Brown if you have questions. GeorgiaAFS@georgiaafs
    • Do you need to brush up on some of your R programming skills? https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgiaAFS/playlists

PAST WORKSHOPS

  • Introduction to R
    • The facilitator will provide a basic introduction to using R and RStudio.  We will describe selected examples and associated code in detail.  Topics will include an overview of R object types, general approaches to working with data frames, use of built-in functions, and selected R packages.  Content will be presented through mini-lectures and demonstrations of examples.  Coding exercises may include the use of queries, sub-setting data, conditional statements, logical tests, simple statistical analyses, and plotting data in base R.
  • Intermediate R and data visualization
    • The facilitator will provide opportunities to work with data, conduct selected analyses, and construct publication-quality graphics using R and RStudio.  We will describe the associated code in detail; however, having some working knowledge of R (such as the first session) and basic fisheries concepts would be beneficial.  Topics will include simple linear regression, linear regression with continuous and categorical variables, nonlinear regression, logistic regression, and model selection methods.  Plotting exercises may include histograms, boxplots, scatterplots, and line plots.
  • Fish Age and Growth for Centrarchidae, Ictaluridae, and marine fishes: Facilitators: Peter Sakaris, Donna McDowell, and Tim Bonvechio
    • Learning Objectives
      • Fish aging application and general procedures
      • Otolith Extraction
      • Otolith preparation and processing
      • Otolith interpretation and aging

  • Fisheries Analysis and Modeling Simulator (FAMS): Facilitator Steve Sammons
    • FAMS is designed to simulate and evaluate the dynamics of exploited fish populations. It allows for the evaluation of minimum, slot, and inverted length limits and bag limits on exploited fisheries. Input parameters require age-structure data and uses the Jones modification of the Beverton-Holt equilibrium yield equation to compute both a yield-per-recruit and a dynamic pool model. For the dynamic pool model, the entire population is simulated over time. In addition, it helps to analyze several predicted population parameters including the number of fish harvested and dying naturally, mean weight and length of harvested fish, number in the population above and below some lengths of interest, total number of fish and biomass in the population, stock density indices, number of age-1 fish, and the Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR)

  • Fish Disease and Biosecurity
    • Learning Objectives
      • Fundamental concepts of disease
      • Specific pathogens: clinical signs, life cycle, pathobiology 
      • Fundamentals of tissue stabilization & fixation
      • The 3 “Ms” of biosecurity
      • The National Aquatic Animal Health Plan
      • Developing a biosecurity plan for recirculating aquaculture systems and raceways
      • Developing a biosecurity plan for ponds