Saving Seafood

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Partners Announce More than $23.4 Million for Fish Habitat Conservation in 2025

May 29, 2025 — The following was released by the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Through the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) (htps://fishhabitat.org), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and partners are providing more than $23.4 million to support 53 on-the-ground fish habitat conservation projects in 29 states. The USFWS is providing $5.9 million this year, with non-governmental organizations, state resource agencies, and other partners contributing an additional $20.4 million. This represents a 6.7:1 leveraged funding match for NFHP funding.
These projects empower and boost locally led conservation efforts that restore and reconnect habitats to create more robust fish populations, improved fishing opportunities, and healthier waterways. Twenty individual Fish Habitat Partnerships across the nation make up our national efforts and work with a variety of partners, including private landowners, farmers and ranchers, Tribes, non-profit organizations, state, federal, and local government agencies, and many others to achieve fish habitat conservation goals that protect, restore, and enhance habitat conditions locally for fish.
In 2025, project types include removing barriers to fish passage, reducing erosion from farm and ranchlands, restoring stream banks, combating the impacts of drought, and conducting monitoring and assessment work to identify conservation needs for fish and their habitats. This year’s projects meet local priorities through partnerships that span from restoring urban and suburban streams to reconnecting tidal wetlands, in states across the country from Alaska to Vermont. Projects target and address limiting factors to improve habitat, water quality, and benefit our nation’s fisheries resources. This funding will also support the coordination of individual Fish Habitat Partnerships and the operations of the National Fish Habitat Board to help establish national priorities under NFHP.
“Annually, the National Fish Habitat Partnership focuses on putting priority conservation projects on-the-ground through partnerships, which benefit both fish and the American people,” said Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “These locally-driven projects are designed to leave a conservation legacy for the protection, restoration and enhancement of fish habitat for future generations to enjoy in the outdoors.”
 
NFHP uses a nationally focused aquatic conservation strategy to maximize the reach of limited fish habitat conservation dollars. Under NFHP, federal, state, tribal, and privately raised funds are leveraged through regional Fish Habitat Partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges. The USFWS is a key partner in implementing the partnership, providing leadership and technical expertise on the local, regional, and national levels, as well as financial assistance directly to partners for on-the-ground conservation projects. Since 2006, the USFWS has provided over $65.6 million to conservation projects which leveraged at a 5:1 ratio to provide over $335 million in funding support for fish habitat conservation projects that improve angling and recreational opportunities across the nation.
 
NFHP assembles the collective expertise of federal, state, and non-governmental organizations to identify and prioritize conservation work to achieve significant benefits for fish and other aquatic resources for the American people.
 
For more information on all of our NFHP projects, please visit our Projects and Accomplishments Dashboard.

Deadline Extended: National Fish Habitat Board Seeks Nominations for Board Member Seat Representing the Commercial Fishing Industry

March 31, 2025 — The following was released by the National Fish Habitat Partnership:

The National Fish Habitat Partnership seeks a candidate representing the commercial fishing industry to join the National Fish Habitat (Board). Join our efforts to protect, restore, and enhance fish habitat nationwide by submitting your application by April 30, 2025. Please email your resume and letter of interest to info@fishhabitat.org.

Additional Information

The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board (Board) seeks nominations from organizations or individuals whose work and interests include fisheries and aquatic habitat conservation to fill one vacant seat on the Board representing the commercial fishing industry. The term of the Board seat will be three years once elected to the Board. The Board views the wide-range of its members and their respective organizations as critical to our conservation mission to protect, restore, and enhance our country’s fish and aquatic communities through a network of partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people. The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board’s membership was codified in 2020 (reauthorized in 2024) through the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act) Section 203(b)(5) to implement the vision and requirements of the ACE Act and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

What is the National Fish Habitat Board?

As detailed in the ACE Act and Board’s National Fish Habitat Action Plan, the Board through its bylaws facilitates the coordination of fish habitat conservation efforts through 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the United States. The Partnerships focus on specific geographic regions, species, or habitat types and use an evidence-based, scientific approach to conservation. The 28-member Board is   composed of representatives from federal and state agencies, Tribes, non-governmental organizations, private industry, and other partners. Through participation in committees and ad hoc working groups, Board members are responsible for the following:

  • Supporting the national network of Fish Habitat Partnerships
  • Reviewing Fish Habitat Partnership project submissions
  • Establishing National Conservation Priorities
  • Communicating NFHP activities with a variety of audiences including Congress
  • Developing national habitat assessments to evaluate the condition of U.S. aquatic habitats
  • Further implementing NFHP provisions of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act and Reauthorization.

 

National Fish Habitat Board Seeks Nominations for Board Member Seat Representing Commercial Fishing Industry

March 25, 2025 — The following was released by the National Fish Habitat Partnership:

The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board (Board) is seeking a candidate representing the commercial fishing industry to join the National Fish Habitat (Board). This three-year position offers an opportunity to contribute to the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish habitat nationwide. The Board coordinates conservation efforts through 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the U.S. and includes representatives from federal and state agencies, Tribes, NGOs, and private industry.

Interested candidates must submit a resume and letter of interest to info@fishhabitat.org by March 31, 2025. For more information, visit https://fishhabitat.org/news/national-fish-habitat-board-seeks-nominations-for-board-member-seat-representing-the-commercial-fishing-industry.

Additional Information
The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board (Board) seeks nominations from organizations or individuals whose work and interests include fisheries and aquatic habitat conservation to fill one vacant seat on the Board representing the commercial fishing industry. The term of the Board seat will be three years once elected to the Board. The Board views the wide-range of its members and their respective organizations as critical to our conservation mission to protect, restore, and enhance our country’s fish and aquatic communities through a network of partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people. The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board’s membership was codified in 2020 (reauthorized in 2024) through the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act) Section 203(b)(5) to implement the vision and requirements of the ACE Act and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

What is the National Fish Habitat Board?
As detailed in the ACE Act and Board’s National Fish Habitat Action Plan, the Board through its bylaws facilitates the coordination of fish habitat conservation efforts through 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the United States. The Partnerships focus on specific geographic regions, species, or habitat types and use an evidence-based, scientific approach to conservation. The 28-member Board is   composed of representatives from federal and state agencies, Tribes, non-governmental organizations, private industry, and other partners. Through participation in committees and ad hoc working groups, Board members are responsible for the following:

  • Supporting the national network of Fish Habitat Partnerships
  • Reviewing Fish Habitat Partnership project submissions
  • Establishing National Conservation Priorities
  • Communicating NFHP activities with a variety of audiences including Congress
  • Developing national habitat assessments to evaluate the condition of U.S. aquatic habitats
  • Further implementing NFHP provisions of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act and Reauthorization.

Progress Update: Engaging Recreational Anglers in Habitat Conservation

June 9, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA funded four projects to engage recreational anglers in habitat conservation in Washington, Virginia, California, and Alaska in 2020. The projects were funded through the National Fish Habitat Partnership. They demonstrated NOAA’s commitment to collaborate with the recreational fishing community. Despite a challenging year, these projects made great progress to benefit coastal communities, fish, and habitats.

Improving Fish Passage on Mink Creek in Alaska

The Takshanuk Watershed Council removed a culvert that was blocking fish passage in Mink Creek in Southeast Alaska in August of 2020. The stream is home to coho and chum salmon, as well as Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout. It is listed in the Alaska Anadromous Waters Catalog, which provides habitat protection under state law. This spring, the Takshanuk Watershed Council began the next phase of the project. This phase includes planting native vegetation along the streambank, constructing a footbridge over the creek, and monitoring fish populations and water quality in the area. These activities will involve youth from the Chilkat Forest Investigators’ after school outdoor science program, as well as recreational anglers. The project will restore the stream and enhance habitat for species important to the recreational and subsistence fishing communities. The culvert removal was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This work is being conducted as part of the Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership.

Read the full release here

National Fish Habitat Partnership Projects to Enhance Recreational Fishing and Restore Habitat

May 6, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA is funding four projects designed to enhance recreational fisheries engagement and restore habitat through the coastal National Fish Habitat Partnerships. Saltwater recreational fishing is a part of the fabric of coastal communities, and anglers make critical contributions to the conservation of fish habitat nationwide. NOAA Fisheries is committed to collaborating with the recreational fishing community and supporting access to sustainable saltwater recreational opportunities. These projects will actively involve anglers in habitat restoration efforts that will benefit coastal communities and economies.

Recreational Engagement and Ecological Learning Series in Louisiana

Sponsoring Partnership: Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Anglers Bettering Louisiana’s Estuaries, Louisiana Sea Grant, and the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership will work with local charter boat captains. They will provide an experiential learning program about Louisiana habitat restoration and coastal planning. The program will include classroom sessions, field days, and time on the water. During the field days, the charter captains will pot, plant, and monitor black mangroves to improve habitat for juvenile fish, shrimp, and crabs. The program will also recruit local high school students to participate in the field days. At the end of the program, the charter boat captains will take these students on two recreational fishing trips. They will teach the students to fish and share what they have learned about Louisiana habitats and their connection to fish.

Outreach and Education at Bill Burton Fishing Pier in Maryland

Sponsoring Partnership: Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership

As part of its Living Reef Action Campaign, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland will expand outreach and education efforts at the Bill Burton Fishing Pier. The pier is frequently visited by a diverse community in Dorchester County, Maryland, and is an access point to the Choptank River Habitat Focus Area. In 2014 and 2015, oyster reef balls were successfully deployed off the pier to provide habitat for striped bass, drum, shad, blue crab, and other species. In this project, CCA Maryland will host several public oyster reef ball building events to construct and deploy more reef balls at the site. The project will also add six bilingual (English and Spanish) signs to inform recreational anglers of the new and previously deployed reef balls at this site. The signs will describe their purpose, the habitat types along the pier, fishing regulations, gear disposal instructions, and seafood consumption safety. An underwater web camera will be installed at the reef and live video will be displayed at the nearby visitor center. A video about the resources at the pier will also be produced and shared with the local community.

Read the full release here

National Fish Habitat Partnership Recognized by Congress

November 12, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On October 30, 2020 the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) was recognized by Congress with the signing of America’s Conservation Enhancement Act. The new law expands NFHP Board membership, authorizes funding to partner organizations, adds Congressional reporting requirements, and more.

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a science-based, state-led initiative to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic ecosystems across the United States. It leverages the resources and expertise of federal, state, and tribal governments, and non-governmental and research organizations to achieve on-the-ground results for fish and aquatic habitats. This unique national partnership consists of a network of 20 state-led Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHPs). Each FHP focuses on improving fish habitat and aquatic communities at regional and local levels. Collectively, they have completed more than 1,000 projects in 50 states.

NOAA Fisheries has been a committed partner of NFHP since its inception in 2006. Through our participation, we conduct and fund projects that support our mission to achieve healthy coastal and estuarine ecosystems, productive and sustainable fisheries, conservation of protected resources, and resilient coastal communities.

“NOAA Fisheries is excited for the National Fish Habitat Partnership to be recognized by Congress,” said Samuel Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, NOAA Fisheries. “We look forward to continuing to protect, enhance, and restore important fish habitats across the coastal United States in support of sustainable fisheries and communities as a proud NFHP partner.”

In addition to serving as a member of the NFHP Board, NOAA Fisheries provides scientific and technical assistance and supports research and restoration efforts. We also provide in-kind support via Board staff and various committees in many of the 10 coastal FHPs.

Read the full release here