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National Fish Habitat Partnership

Protecting, restoring, and enhancing the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for people.

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What is the National Fish Habitat Partnership?

From cold, glacier-fed rivers in Alaska to salt marshes in Florida, fish habitats take many forms. They can be found in coastal and inland regions of the United States. However, many of these habitats are threatened or degraded, leaving fish without a suitable home. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works collaboratively with numerous partners to reverse fish habitat declines across the nation.

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An image of the Kilchis Estuary in Oregon with a spruce swamp in the foreground and mountains in the background
This project in Kilchis Estuary, Oregon within the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Partnership restored freshwater and tidal connections, provided off-channel rearing habitat for young salmon, and restored historic spruce swamp habitat. Credit: Pacific Marine and Estuarine Partnership

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a science-based, state-led initiative to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic ecosystems across the United States. It was founded in 2006 and promotes and unites a network of 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across federal and state agencies and conservation groups. In 2020, Congress recognized the Partnership with the signing of America’s Conservation Enhancement Act. It has five main goals, which are carried out at multiple geographic scales:

  1. Protecting intact healthy waters
  2. Restoring hydrologic conditions for fish
  3. Reconnecting fragmented fish habitats
  4. Restoring water quality
  5. Coordinating and providing operational support for Fish Habitat Partnerships to make on-the-ground progress within program appropriations 

The Partnership is guided by the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (PDF, 44 pages). It provides a strategy to address the health of aquatic habitats from the nation’s interior to its oceans.

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People along a stream bank working together to dig holes and plant plants.
Along Montana Creek, a popular trout and salmon-fishing stream near Talkeetna, Alaska, Tribal members, youth, and other community volunteers are hard at work planting native trees and shrubs to stabilize 600 feet of streambank. The streambank is important rearing habitat for trout, salmon, and Dolly Varden. Credit: Trout Unlimited Alaska

What is NOAA’s in the Partnership?

As a founding member, NOAA provides national and regional leadership, funding, and technical expertise for coastal and marine activities that support its mission. NOAA is a committed partner in implementing the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. The plan directs our work to achieve healthy ecosystems, sustainable marine life, and resilient coastal communities through innovative solutions, flexible management, adaptability, and scientific research. 

Many of the Fish Habitat Partnerships partner with local recreational fishing communities to jointly advance fish habitat goals. NOAA and the Partnership also collaborate with external partners to implement the NOAA Fisheries Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy. This work fosters, supports, and enhances people’s access to a diverse array of sustainable saltwater recreational fisheries.

Funding Opportunity

NOAA-supported Partnership work includes habitat studies, science symposia, restoration projects, and habitat protection initiatives. Since 2018, NOAA  has funded on-the-ground projects through Fish Habitat Partnerships in coastal areas. Funded projects protect or restore important recreational fish species’ habitats and actively engage recreational fishing partners. See some of our previously funded projects and listen to the podcast episode highlighting a project in South Carolina.

To apply for this funding, see our call for proposals (PDF, 5 pages). 

Approximately $150,000 total funding is available, with up to $75,000 awarded per project. Applications are due by April 18, 2025. Any coastal Fish Habitat Partnership or their partner(s) is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity. Organizations that are not already partners in a coastal Fish Habitat Partnership are also welcome to apply, provided that they coordinate with the relevant Fish Habitat Partnership coordinator on their application.

Science 

Since 2006, NOAA has supported the goals of the Action Plan by using existing funding and capacity to support activities aligned with NOAA’s mission. NOAA representatives bolster the Partnership’s scientific efforts by:

  • Providing technical support for the development and execution of the National Fish Habitat Assessment
  • Serving and advising the network of Fish Habitat Partnerships as members on steering committees or other committees
  • Providing technical support for on-the-ground project planning and science and data initiatives

Awards

In collaboration with the Partnership and the American Fisheries Society, NOAA Fisheries co-sponsors the Stanley A. Moberly Fish Habitat Conservation Award. This annual award recognizes the efforts of as many as three individuals, groups, or projects with an outstanding, long-term record of success in research, management, policy, communications, education, or other fields that support fish habitat conservation. To nominate someone deserving of this award, please submit a nomination package online. A nomination package should include:

  • A nomination letter that describes the nominees qualifications and any relevant projects
  • A current CV for individuals or a group
  • Up to three supporting letters

 

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A closeup of a person’s hands holding a coastal cutthroat trout
The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve habitat for many fish species, including the coastal cutthroat trout pictured here. This species is found off the U.S. West Coast, including parts of Alaska. Credit: James Losee/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

 

Overall, the Partnership unites a network of diverse partners with a wide array of expertise and NOAA is proud to play an active role in it. This cooperative effort protects, restores, and enhances the nation’s fish and aquatic communities and improves the quality of life for people.

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A group of approximately 20 people working on an oyster reef restoration project with a “restoration in progress” sign in the foreground
During this multi-year partnership with Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership, the funding to coastal restoration projects drew in significant additional funding and inspired communities to restore oyster reef, salt marsh, mangrove, and seagrass habitats. Credit: Brevard Zoo of Melbourne, Florida

More Information

Last updated by Office of Habitat Conservation on 11/20/2024

National Fish Habitat Partnership