Protecting Salmon through Alaska Fish Habitat Partnerships

Salmon are critical to the social and economic condition of Alaska. Salmon support sport and commercial fisheries, tourism, recreation, and provide a large portion of the food resources for state residents. Alaska Fish Habitat Partnerships have used gap analyses to identify threats to salmon habitat and have developed different approaches to salmon habitat protection and restoration. This presentation will outline the Strategic Action Plans developed by Fish Habitat Partnerships and the different approaches to salmon habitat protection based upon regional differences in threats. Case studies will be presented to demonstrate how the Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership Strategic Action Plan focuses scientific, restoration, protection, and education efforts toward common goals and combines multiple funding sources to accomplish partnership objectives.