Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices
Working with partners, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices (FWCOs) restore and maintain fish and other aquatic resources for the benefit of the American public, helping ensure that these resources stay among the richest and most diverse in the world.ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the planning, restoration, and management of fisheries and their habitats
- Apply scientific data to focus conservation activities on high-priority species and watersheds
- Restore aquatic habitats (instream and wetland) and re-open fish passage, including activities under the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and National Fish Passage Program
- Provide critical information to partners on the condition of habitat and populations of fish and other aquatic species
- Work collaboratively with partners to improve status and condition of interjurisdictional fisheries
- Fulfill Federal trust responsibilities to Native American Tribes by working with them to conserve and manage fish and wildlife resources on Tribal lands
- Supervise subsistence use by rural Alaskans on federal lands
Featured FWCO:
Maine Fishery Resource Office
The Maine Fishery Resources Office (FRO) was established in 1987 with the mission of providing management coordination and technical assistance to state, federal, tribal and non-government partners involved in the recovery and restoration of aquatic resources in Maine. The Maine FRO provides field and technical assistance in all phases of interagency fish (freshwater and diadromous) restoration and recovery programs in Maine.
More recently, management activities include recovering federally listed endangered populations of Atlantic salmon in conjunction with other state, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned citizens whose mission is to conserve and enhance Atlantic salmon habitat and populations.
In 2009 Maine FRO along with its partners, Project SHARE (Salmon Habitat and River Enhancement), were among an elite group of select individuals and organizations recognized at the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) Casting Call Event on March 27th. Project SHARE received the Extraordinary Action Award for its work on habitat restoration activities for Atlantic salmon in the state of Maine. Project SHARE’s restoration activities include: removing remnants of old log drive dams left over from the logging industry during the late 18th and early 19th century, replacing traditional undersized round culverts with bankfull, channel spanning, bottomless arched culverts that allow fish and other aquatic species to pass freely beneath road crossings, and other stream habitat enhancements such as large woody debris additions, bio-engineered bank stabilization and limestone additions.
The Maine FRO is a part of the Maine Fisheries Resources Complex, which also consists of the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery (NFH) and the Green Lake National Fish Hatchery. For more information about the Maine Fisheries Resource Office please visit their website at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/mainefisheries/MFRO.htm and for more information on the Maine Fisheries Program Complex please visit their website at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/mainefisheries/Index.htm.
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Standing at the culvert inlet (from left to right) is Scott Craig from the USFWS Maine Fisheries Resource Office (MEFRO), Mike Loughlin (center) and Colby Bruchs (right) from Maine Bureau of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat. Stocking River-Specific Endangered Atlantic Salmon fry (from Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery) in recently restored tributary in the West Branch Machias River (Washington County). In 2007 this stream-road crossing received a bankfull channel spanning open-bottom arch culvert.
Photo Credit: USFWS MEFRO May 2008
