Featuring written interviews with 23 veteran Montana biologists, Keeping the Last Best Fishery provides valuable advice to students and early career biologists about managing public resources. Special emphasis is placed on the "soft skills" – maintaining good interpersonal relationships, forming effective partnerships, balancing public desires and scientific data, and looking to the future of the profession. The contributing biologists, including managers, scientists, technicians, and administrators, talk about what keeps the waters of the Last Best State so renowned. Their advice to the next generation will be invaluable for those wishing to learn from past successes and mistakes. While fisheries management is the book's focus, much of the advice is relevant to all kinds of natural resource management.
Featured biologists include Dick Vincent (foreword), Amber Steed, Barry Hansen, Beth Gardner, Bob Gresswell, Brad Shepard, Brian Marotz, Caleb Bollman, Carter Kruse, Chris Clancy, Chris Hunter, David Brooks, Jim Dunnigan, Jim Vashro, Leslie Nyce, Matt Boyer, Mike Jakober, Mike Ruggles, Pat Clancey, Pat Saffel, Tom McMahon, Travis Horton, and Wade Fredenberg. David Ritter supplies beautiful cover art.
Published by the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.