The National Fish Habitat Report and Other Outreach Strategies: Overview and Recommendations for 2015

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan includes a number of objectives to be completed by 2010.  In recognition of the need to base fish habitat conservation priorities on sound science, those 2010 objectives included completing an assessment of fish habitat and issuing a report on the status of fish habitats in the U.S.  A multi-year and multi-institution effort among academics and government scientists produced not one but five assessments conducted using slightly different methods driven by the availability of data in different parts of the U.S.  Together, these assessments covered the rivers and estuaries of the lower 48 states, the rivers of Alaska and Hawaii, and the estuaries of southeast Alaska.  The assessment methodology used GIS and sophisticate statistical analyses, yet the report based on the results of these assessments had to be understandable to the general public.  The process of translating the assessment results into language appropriate for non-scientists involved balancing the need for scientific accuracy with the need to use commonly understood terms.  Several drafts were vetted with scientists, communication specialists, and decision-makers before final language was adopted, and a professional graphic artist helped make the final report visually appealing.

In addition to the 70-page report titled “Through a Fish’s Eye – the Status of Fish Habitats in the US” state-specific summaries were developed to communicate more effectively with state interests including state fish agencies, Congress, and state-based conservation entities.  A combination of economic information and stories of local conservation efforts is used to highlight the need for increased attention to fish habitat conservation, even in the current era of decreasing financial resources.  Continuing outreach efforts will use these state summaries to build support for NFHAP and new topic-specific summaries will be developed as additional needs are identified.