Effective fisheries management requires an understanding of fish biology, ecology, and habitat needs, as well as fish culture, fish health, and people skills. These areas are typically covered by different people in many organizations and so require good communication for successful management. Many waterbodies in the U.S. sustain a recreational fishery through stocking both native and non-native species. Stocking is a tool used to provide additional fishing opportunities (both recreational and commercial) where species have been lost, or habitat is no longer suitable to fully sustain a wild population in the face of fishing pressure and ecosystem imbalance. Fish health is a critical component for both as fish culture needs to reduce any disease transmission due to the hatchery environment as well as wild fisheries where pathogens and viruses can be transmitted through numerous vectors including anglers and uncertified private aquaculture moving diseased fish; infected bilge, live well, and ballast water release; aquatic plant harvesters that do not clean their gear; as well as environmental changes. The American Fisheries Society provides a common community for these disciplines to encourage communication and exchange of ideas through annual meetings and workshops and other opportunities. This presentation will provide an overview of the 2027 AFS annual meeting theme and the interconnectedness of fisheries management, fish health, and fish culture issues that are found in North America as well as across the world. Examples will include fish passage issues and loss of genetic diversity and habitat, the challenges with lack of understanding of pathogen distribution across the landscape and implications to fisheries management, the evolving needs and challenges for fish hatcheries to support recreational fisheries in the future, as well as attempts at truly ecosystem-based management.