Carl R. Sullivan Award Recognizes TU's Outstanding Contribution to the Conservation of Fishery Resources

Quebec City, Quebec - Trout Unlimited (TU) was honored with one of the American Fisheries Society's (AFS) highest awards today, the Carl R. Sullivan Award ("The Sully"), at the opening session of AFS's annual convention in Quebec City. The award is named for the former executive director of AFS, one of America's most beloved and respected fisheries conservationists. The award is given annually to an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to the conservation of fishery resources. AFS, founded in 1870, is the oldest and largest professional society representing fisheries scientists.

"TU is delighted and honored to receive this award," said Charles Gauvin, TU's President and CEO. "Our staff and our members hold the AFS and its member scientists in the highest regard. We work with AFS members on a daily basis, doing our trout and salmon conservation work. The award is special to us because it comes from our friends and partners," said Gauvin.

The mission of the American Fisheries Society is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. It also encourages a comprehensive education for fisheries scientists and continuing on-the-job training. The AFS publishes some of the world's leading fisheries research journals:

Carl R. Sullivan, affectionately know to all as "Sully" died in 1991 after a rich life of fisheries conservation achievement. As Executive Director of AFS from 1975 until his death, Sullivan led an unparalleled degree of growth and success with AFS. Under his direction, AFS grew substantially in budget, membership, and clout within the fisheries conservation arena, culminating with his leadership role in passage of the Wallop-Breaux Sport Fish Restoration Act, which has yielded $200 million per year for state fisheries conservation work.

"I had the good fortune of knowing and working with Sully, and he was a giant of fisheries conservation," said Steve Moyer, Vice President of TU's Government Affairs and Volunteer Operations. "He was one of the most revered, beloved and effective conservationists I ever met. TU is proud to be associated with his legacy," said Moyer.

TU is North America's leading coldwater fisheries conservation organization, dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. The organization has more than 127,000 members in 450 chapters in North America. TU's conservation efforts span the continent, from recovering imperiled Pacific salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest to saving Atlantic salmon in Maine; from working to reduce the harmful impacts of acid rain on trout fisheries of the Appalachians to restoring the once great "coaster" brook trout of Lake Superior; from advocating for trout and salmon before Congress, to restoring the native cutthroat trout of the interior western U.S.

Contact: Charles Gauvin
(207) 838-0238

Steve Moyer
(703) 284-9406
Vice President of Volunteer Operations and Government Affairs Trout Unlimited, smoyer@tu.org