Beyond the Usual Suspects: Enlisting Non-Traditional Partners in Fish Habitat Conservation

Advocates and practitioners of aquatic habitat conservation start from a disadvantage.  Not only are fish and their habitats out of sight and generally out of mind, they are also downstream from human activities on the landscape.  Pave a parking lot, cut timber from a hillside, expose the soil for agriculture, build a road crossing – many everyday activities degrade aquatic habitats, but are not regulated except perhaps by local zoning authorities.  Most people are not even aware that they are affecting downstream habitats.  The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to broaden the community of support for fish habitat conservation, encouraging local governments, landowners, and businesses to be part of the solution, helping to conserve waterways and fisheries through informed, voluntary action.  Social and economic benefits of healthy fish habitats are increasingly well known, but are broadly dispersed across society, except for relatively few fishing-related businesses.  Enlisting private sector support for fish habitat conservation is a challenge, but some forward-thinking business leaders are taking action to conserve water resources and biodiversity as part of their operations.  Continuous experimentation and learning across the network of Fish Habitat Partnerships will help to broaden engagement by non-traditional partners who are critical to long-term conservation success.