UAPB Professor Steve Lochmann Elected AFS Vice President

By William Hehemann, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, School of Agriculture

Pine Bluff, Ark. – April 29, 2026 – Dr. Steve Lochmann, professor of fisheries management and ecology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, has been elected 2nd vice president of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and will be installed on Sept. 1, entering the organization’s presidential rotation.

The American Fisheries Society is the world’s oldest and largest professional society dedicated to fisheries and aquatic species. It represents thousands of professionals and students who have dedicated their careers to researching, conserving and educating about fisheries and aquatic resources in North America and around the world.

“Dr. Steve Lochmann’s election reflects his national reputation as a scholar and leader in fisheries science and illustrates the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s commitment to advancing research, preparing talent and supporting critical natural resources,” Dr. Anthony Graham, UAPB Chancellor, said.

Dr. Lochmann previously served as president of the AFS Arkansas Chapter (state level), the Southern Division (regional level) and the Fish Culture Section (discipline-specific level) within the society.

“In an organization of more than 5,000 fisheries professionals from North America and around the world, one can imagine there are many qualified individuals who might serve as 2nd vice president,” Dr. Lochmann said. “Hence, it is a distinct honor to be chosen to serve the society and its membership.”

As a member of the executive committee, Dr. Lochmann said he is committed to making all the society’s activities – both within and outside of meetings – relevant to the entire membership.

“My institution expects its faculty to engage in service to the university, the community and one’s profession,” he said. “Serving on the American Fisheries Society’s Executive Committee is service to my profession.”

At UAPB, one of Dr. Lochmann’s primary roles is training the next generation of fisheries professionals. He takes students to state, regional and national American Fisheries Society meetings, where they engage with peers from other institutions, biologists from state and federal natural resource agencies, and scientists from NGOs and the private sector. Professional development workshops, themed symposia and general presentation sessions expose these future fisheries professionals to the challenges facing the field and the latest solutions.

“Young fisheries professionals have better sampling equipment, as well as more advanced statistical tools and computer technologies,” Dr. Lochmann said.

He is also excited about new industry innovations. For example, he recently learned that electrofishing has been adapted for saltwater. The technique, which allows biologists to use electricity to momentarily stun fish – making them easy to net without injury – could be a game-changing technology for coastal fisheries biologists.

The field is also being influenced by generative artificial intelligence (AI), which is changing the way people teach, learn and work.

“With AI, young fisheries professionals will be able to do in minutes what used to take weeks or months to accomplish,” he said. “While the potential of AI is incredibly exciting, it also raises questions about ethical use and what to do with the extra time that a more efficient, AI-based workflow creates. I am excited to be in the middle of national and international conversations about how to use AI for better management and conservation.”

Dr. Lochmann believes scientists must take an engagement-based approach to communicating research with the public. This includes speaking directly with individuals, listening to their perspectives and re-examining research when new ideas are presented.

He cited a recent UAPB project on water temperature modeling in an Arkansas tailwater as an example. In the study, researchers used daily averages of water temperature, air temperature and dam discharge – but an angler suggested that was the wrong time increment.

“When the angler suggested we look at water temperature on an hourly basis, we constructed a second model based on his input,” Dr. Lochmann said. “The results were generally the same. However, the angler appreciated that his suggestion was taken seriously and now has more confidence in our research results.”

Dr. Lochmann’s path to fisheries science began in the Midwest, where childhood days spent fishing, boating and watching shows such as Flipper and Jacques Cousteau inspired him to someday become a marine biologist. Determined to follow his dream, he pursued degrees in biology and chemistry at Valparaiso University, followed by a master’s in marine biology at Florida Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in oceanography at Texas A&M University.

His early career focused on marine systems, including postdoctoral research and work on Atlantic Cod in Canada. However, after joining UAPB, his focus shifted to freshwater fisheries, where he built a career teaching, mentoring students and conducting applied research to support state resource management.

At UAPB, Lochmann has studied a wide range of species and ecosystems, from larval fish ecology and sportfish populations to invasive species and the conservation of endangered fish.

In addition to his scientific work, he has taken on key administrative roles in higher education, including directing student learning assessment and supporting institutional planning and accreditation. Guided by a servant leadership philosophy, Dr. Lochmann said he values both his work in fisheries and administration as opportunities to help students and colleagues grow.

As he prepares to assume the role of 2nd vice president for AFS, Dr. Lochmann plans to focus on continuous improvement in science communication, leveraging the diversity of AFS members to improve outcomes, and embracing new technologies.

“I can’t protect every fish, lake or stream, but I will work to encourage, foster and uplift every fisheries professional in the American Fisheries Society so that each of us achieves our full potential,” he said.