The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. From habitat restoration to aquatic invasive species prevention, captive breeding to population assessment and monitoring, our programs are driven by the best advances in science and grounded in collaborative relationships.
What We Do
Our Services
- In 2023 the National Fish Hatchery System raised and stocked more than 126 million fish, mussels, amphibians, and other aquatic wildlife for conservation.
- In 2023 the National Fish Passage program removed or bypassed 118 barriers that prevented fish from moving freely, reopened access to 2,200 miles of stream habitat and restored 24,812 acres for fish and other wildlife.
- In 2023 and 2024, the Aquatic Invasive Species program invested $4.9 million into early detection and eradication of costly invasions of non-native species.
- In 2023 nearly a million people visited national fish hatcheries and conservation offices across the country to feed fish, take a tour, and enjoy their public lands.
Latest Stories and Topics
Stories
Habitat Restoration
One of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, the Indian River Lagoon is an estuary of national significance. The Service partners with a variety of groups to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.
Our Partners
Elwynn Sherman is a Biological Field Intern placed at Fort Cavazos, Texas through a partnership with the Army and the U.S. Fish...
Our Partners
The U.S. Army has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve our nation’s most at risk ecosystems. This series, In Defense of Our Natural Resources, highlights the success of these projects and of those who made them a reality.
Our Partners
Shelby Truckenbrod is a PhD student at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Through a partnership with the USFWS and the Army, she works at Fort Devens in eastern Massachusetts, facilitating partnerships to monitor and research Blanding’s turtles.
Our Partners
At the Leavenworth Fisheries Complex in Washington State, our commitment to restoring salmon populations goes beyond raising and releasing fish. Our partnerships with the Wenatchee Entiat Beaver Project and the Methow Okanogan Beaver Project exemplify how we harness collaboration and creativity to...
Our Partners
Emily Grace Thompson is a Digital Media Intern at The Fish and Wildlife Service's Headquarters. Her position is funded in partnership with the Army, and her job focuses around supporting youth employment and communicating successes in Army Natural Resources Programs.
