About

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.

A Little bit of Background

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.

Our 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 will we achieve our 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

We've got goals

Goal One

Protect and maintain intact and healthy aquatic systems

Goal Two

Prevent further degradation of fish habitats that have been adversely affected

Goal Three

Reverse declines in the quality and quantity of aquatic habitats to improve the overall health of fish and other aquatic organisms

Goal Four

Increase the quality and quantity of fish habitats that support a broad natural diversity of fish and other aquatic species

Updates

THROUGH A FISH’S EYE: THE STATUS OF FISH HABITATS IN THE UNITED STATES 2015

Friday, November, 2016

This report summarizes the results of an unprecedented nationwide assessment of human effects on fish habitat in the rivers and estuaries of...

Action Plans

National Fish Habitat Action Plan

Friday, August, 2016

National Fish Habitat Action Plan: 2nd Edition

Friday, August, 2016

Charter

National Fish Habitat Board Bylaws (Approved December 2023)

Friday, January, 2024

National Fish Habitat Partnership Charter

Friday, August, 2016

Enabling Legislation

PL 116-188, Title II: America’s Conservation Enhancement Act

Friday, April, 2021