March 6, 2026 — The following was released by the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
The National Fish Habitat Board announced the appointment of two new members during its Jan. 28–29, 2026 meeting at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri. The Board elected Connor Bevan to represent the Recreational Sportfishing Industry and Kellie Ralston to represent Habitat Conservation Organizations. In addition, Gene Gilliland of B.A.S.S. was re-elected to serve a third term representing Freshwater Recreational Anglers.
Bevan serves as Inland Fisheries Policy Director for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the nation’s recreational fishing trade association. In this role, he leads ASA’s federal and state freshwater policy portfolio, including policy work across the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin. His work focuses on advancing fish habitat conservation initiatives, protecting recreational fishing access, and addressing regulatory issues affecting sportfishing equipment and tackle.
Ralston, a fifth-generation Floridian, is Vice President for Conservation and Public Policy at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, where she works on U.S. and international fisheries, habitat, water quality, and environmental issues. She currently serves on Florida’s Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board and the Environmental Regulatory Commission. Ralston has also served nationally on NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee and the American Fisheries Advisory Committee.
Ralston earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Florida State University. Her professional experience includes positions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the American Sportfishing Association.
Bevan succeeds Mike Leonard of ASA, who has been involved with the National Fish Habitat Partnership since 2014 and served on the Board prior to the passage of the ACE Act in 2020. Ralston succeeds Bryan Moore of Trout Unlimited, who has also been involved with the Partnership since 2014 and served on the Board prior to the ACE Act.
Resources and presentations from the January meeting of the National Fish Habitat Board are available at fishhabitat.org.
###
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, NFHP has supported over 1,700 projects and has put over $600 million in conservation projects on the ground benefiting fish habitat throughout all 50 states. This effort works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest effect on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships that are organized around key fish species, geographic areas, or important fish habitats. In 2020, NFHP was recognized by Congress as part of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act and was reauthorized in 2024. NFHP guidance and policies are developed in conjunction with our partnerships and National Fish Habitat Board. For more information, visit: https://fishhabitat.org/.