Welcome!

The Gilbert Ichthyological Society, or GIS, is a group whose primary purpose is to foster communication in the Pacific Northwest concerning all things ichthyological. The Society honors Charles Henry Gilbert, a pioneer of early ichthyology in the western United States, who was either solely, or through collaboration, responsible for describing 620 species of fishes.

Members of the Society are ichthyologists and fishery biologists from Washington, Oregon, and California, working for State and Federal agencies, Universities, and private industry.

Meetings are held annually and alternate between locations in Washington and Oregon. After canceling the 2020 and 2021 meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Society has resumed our annual schedule and will be holding the 33rd annual meeting at Pack Forest in Eatonville, Washington from September 29 to October 1, 2023.

We invite you to explore our site and learn about the rich history of our Society and our Society's namesake, Charles Henry Gilbert.

The Gilbert Ichthyology Society values human diversity and strives for inclusivity. We actively celebrate ichthyological accomplishments but recognize that social perspectives and values represented in historical documents do not always represent those of our Society nor its membership. We commit to improving relationships and inviting collaboration across social, cultural, and geographic boundaries. We celebrate the achievement and invite the participation of all people interested in ichthyology, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other aspect of human diversity.

Inquiries about the GIS, our mission, and activities can be directed here.