The National Fish Habitat Action Plan
America’s fisheries are facing a conservation crisis. Nearly 40% of North American fishes, 700 species in total, are listed as imperiled. More than two-thirds of these are considered federally threatened or endangered. Habitat alteration is the principle factor in this conservation crisis and is the principle motivation for the development of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP).
NFHAP is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Under NFHAP, Federal, State, Tribal, and privately-raised funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges. For anglers, conservation groups, and industry leaders, NFHAP has become an unprecedented rallying point for those committed to conserving America’s fisheries. This is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms. By 2010, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan will:
- Assess the condition of all fish habitats in the U.S.
- Prepare a Status of Fish Habitats in the U.S. report.
- Establish 12 or more Fish Habitat Partnerships in priority areas.
- Fund projects to protect, restore, and enhance priority habitats.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Role
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a key partner in implementing the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, along with States, Tribes, other Federal agencies, conservation organizations, and industry. The Service is a natural collaborator with NFHAP because habitat protection and restoration are central elements of the Service’s mission. Through Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHPs), organized around important aquatic habitat and species, Service employees provide NFHAP with leadership and technical expertise, from local restoration projects to regional FHP development and national administration.
