National Fish Habitat Partnership

The original National Fish Habitat Action 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. The Plan was codified by Title II of PL 116-188 America’s Conservation Enhancement Act: National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships on October 30, 2020.

The Mission

Our mission is to protect, restore and enhance the nation’s fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people.

How They Will Achieve the Mission

• Supporting existing fish habitat partnerships and fostering new efforts
• Mobilizing and focusing national and local support for achieving fish habitat conservation goals
• Setting national and regional fish habitat conservation goals
• Measuring and communicating the status and needs of fish habitats
• Providing national leadership and coordination to conserve fish habitats