Washington D.C. - The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is excited to see the National Fish Habitat Partnership’s 2019 list of “Waters to Watch” representing a snapshot of voluntary, locally driven freshwater, estuarine and marine habitat conservation efforts implemented across the country. States are a key partner in implementing these conservation priorities.
“The National Fish Habitat Partnership is working to protect, restore and enhance the nation's fish and aquatic communities through collaborative, science-based initiatives that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people,” said Ed Carter, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “The Association is pleased to be one of many partners to help in these efforts to conserve our nations valuable natural resources.”
“These projects are representative of some of the best collaborative initiatives in conservation today,” said Ed Schriever, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board and Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. “The leveraging of resources through our partnerships is remarkable and proves that we can collectively achieve more to benefit fish habitat.”
The 2019 “Waters to Watch” list and associated Fish Habitat Partnerships:
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has supported 852 projects benefiting fish habitat in all 50 states. The partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide; leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships.
AFWA and the National Fish Habitat Partnership Program:
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is an unprecedented attempt to address an unseen crisis for fish nationwide: loss and degradation of their watery homes.
The plan was born in 2001 when an ad hoc group supported by the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council explored the notion of developing a partnership effort for fish on the scale of what was done for waterfowl in the 1980s through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The waterfowl plan has worked wonders during the past two decades to boost waterfowl populations by forming strong local and regional partnerships to protect key habitats. AFWA supports staffing for the National Fish Habitat Partnership and also plays a key role in the Executive Leadership Team of the Board. The National Fish Habitat Board is also comprised of members from states and regional AFWA Associations.
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.
Patricia Allen
Director of Communications
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
1100 First Street, Suite 825, Washington DC 20002
Telephone 202-838-3461 / Fax 202-350-9869
Email: pallen@fishwildlife.org