What We Do

Meeting Conservation Challenges

America’s aquatic ecosystems have historically sustained some of the most abundant and diverse communities of fish, invertebrates, and plants in the world. Many of these species, such as salmon, trout, Pacific lamprey, river herring, American shad, and striped bass are important cultural, economic, and recreational resources. However, aquatic species represent some of the most imperiled organisms both nationally and globally. Habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species , and climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change are some of the primary factors in the decline of native species.

Accomplishing Our Mission

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission is “working with others, to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”  To accomplish that mission, the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program works to:

  • Conserve Aquatic Species
  • Conserve, Restore, and Enhance Aquatic Habitats 
  • Manage Aquatic Invasive Species 
  • Fulfill Tribal Trust and Subsistence Responsibilities 
  • Enhance Recreational Fishing and Other Public Uses of Aquatic Resources 
  • Educate and Engage the Public and our Partners to Advance our Conservation Mission 

We manage a network of cutting-edge conservation offices across the country.

Our Programs

We focus our work on geographic areas and species with the greatest needs. Through biological inventories, assessments, modeling, and conservation strategies we worked with partners to better understand and alleviate threats to aquatic resources by propagating fish and other aquatic species to enhance wild populations, by strategically improving habitat, and restoring the connectivity of the Nation’s waterways, and preventing new infestations of aquatic invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species . 

A person is walks through a large wide culvert that passes under a gravel road. A small river runs through the culvert.
The Fish Passage Program works with local communities on a voluntary basis to restore rivers and conserve our nation’s aquatic resources by removing or bypassing barriers. Our projects benefit both fish and people.
Program
A view of the Sacramento River. Its flat, blue water is lined by bright green trees and vegetation. Blue skies are overhead.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a comprehensive effort to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms. The Partnership is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to...
Program
A jet black, scaly snake with a burnt orange colored face curled up in some grass
We foster collaborative partnerships with the Department of Defense to promote conservation on military lands. Working under the authority of the Sikes Act, we offer guidance and field support for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources on military installations while...
Program
A half dozen large silver fish jumping out of the water to a height of six feet.
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
Program
150 Years. National Fish Hatchery System.” in front of glossy orange eggs against a white background.
The National Fish Hatchery System works to support healthy, self-sustaining populations of fish and other aquatic species across the country. Every year we raise and stock over 100 million fish to support the recovery and restoration of imperiled species, recreational fishing, and tribal...
Program
A fish with a reddish tone body with black spots on upper part of body, this side view of a Chinook salmon shows the salmon swimming right above a gravel riverbed.
Healthy fisheries are core to the conservation work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are working with partners to protect and enhance the health of fish and other aquatic animals in aquaculture and in the wild.
Program
Bozeman, MT

Our Services

Tortoises saved and released on Eglin range
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs)

The Sikes Act requires most military installations within the United States to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for natural resource conservation and management (e.g., fish and wildlife, forestry, land management, outdoor recreation) on the installation. This conservation plan, known...

Trout stocking in tailwater
Fish Stocking

The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at a national fish hatchery. Since 1871 we have been working to improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across...

Small orange fish eggs on a white background.
National Broodstock Program’s Egg Distribution Service

The national broodstock program was established in 1970 to support healthy sustainable fisheries in waterways across the country. Every year the national broodstock program provides about 60 million fish eggs that are hatched and raised by our partners to meet their conservation and management...

Dozens of silver fish swim over a rocky stream bed.
National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordination

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a national investment strategy designed to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges and projects are identified and completed...

woman holding survey equipment
Fish Passage Technical and Planning Assistance

The National Fish Passage Program provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the ability of fish or other aquatic species to migrate by reconnecting habitat that has been fragmented by a barrier such as a dam or culvert. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists...

Adult Grass carp
National Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers a triploid grass carp inspection service for natural resource agencies in the United States and in other countries, to help States and others protect their aquatic habitats. The inspection program is to provide assurance to these agencies, and others...

Native Cutthroat trout swimming in Yellowstone National Park
Investigational New Animal Drugs

The National Investigational New Animal Drug Program is operated by the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership. It is the only program in the United States singularly dedicated to obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of new medications needed for use in fish culture and...

Photo of kids fishing at a lake
National Outreach and Communications Program
Authorization 

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 101 §7402), and Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act—National Outreach and Communications Program (16 U.S.C. §777g(d)). 

Background 

The National Outreach and...