Climate Ambassador Program

Natural resource scientists receive extensive education and training to address the requirements of fish and wildlife management. While many job duties are an extension of this training (including experiment design, data collection and analysis, etc.) another important aspect of their work involves communicating with constituents and the general public about management decisions, conservation issues, regulations, and the importance of compliance. Often, fisheries managers are often sought out by media and policy-makers for their viewpoints and expertise. However, little attention is given to how best to communication this information. This lack of connection between management science and public/stakeholder engagement creates a significant gap in achieving conservation goals.

To help fill that gap, the American Fisheries Society, in partnership with FCF, has developed the Climate Ambassador Program (CAP). This program provides communication skills training to fisheries professionals so that they can better inform constituents on the impacts of climate change on aquatic systems.

The CAP program is a holistic approach to communications, tackling skills to develop strong narratives, delivery, presentations, and visuals, as well as specific policy and media trainings. Founded on the latest research on science communications, program trainings are interactive and provide the tools for fisheries scientists to communicate with thought leaders, journalists, stakeholders, and lay audiences more effectively.