How to Benefit from and Contribute to Regional Fish Habitat Partnerships and the National Fish Habitat Partnership: A State Agency Perspective

Fish Habitat Partnerships are the primary work units charged with implementation of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.  State natural resource agencies are the primary agencies responsible for recreational sport fish management in states, and are also one of the primary agencies responsible for non-game aquatic resource conservation.  Regional Fish Habitat Partnerships and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan need the participation of state resource agencies to be successful in their mission.  State agencies help guide habitat conservation and aquatic resource protection policies, provide environmental reviews on projects and permitting, and have credibility with angler groups and the general public as the governing authority of fisheries management in their jurisdictions.  On the other hand, Fish Habitat Partnerships provide decision support tools, habitat assessments, information, funding, and opportunities to interact with conservation partners that will help state fisheries agencies accomplish their missions relative to fish habitat conservation.  This presentation will review some of the benefits and contributions of state agencies that interact with Fish Habitat Partnerships in the southern United States, and present opportunities for greater collaboration in the future.