Connecticut River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

In October 2023 federal, state, and nonprofit partners launched the Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative (Cooperative). The new Cooperative will coordinate fisheries management and restoration in the Connecticut River watershed, continuing the work of The Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission (CRASC). There are ten members in the Cooperative; one natural resource agency member from each of the the four states, one member representing the public and appointed by the State Fish and Wildlife Agency Director from each of the four states, and two federal agencies. See names of Cooperators below. The Cooperative will determine the status of migratory fishes and their habitats and identify management actions necessary for restoring migratory fish in the New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Connecticut River basin. They are advised by a Technical Committee that includes fish biologist experts from each of the four states and two federal agencies. The Technical Committee evaluates the status and trends of American shad, alewife, blueback herring, shortnose sturgeon, sea lamprey, and American eel, and makes recommendations to the Cooperative for how to improve fish populations, fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage , and fish habitat. The Cooperative Members and Technical Committee meets twice a year in spring and fall. The public is invited to all meetings. Contact Ken Sprankle (ken_sprankle@fws.gov) to be placed on an email list for notification of meetings. 

Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative Commissioners

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Since 1967, our office has worked with local environmental groups, private industry, and state and federal agencies to restore migratory fish in the Connecticut River basin. This collaboration continues and is focused on the long-term health of the Connecticut River.