For more than 150 years, the Fish and Aquatic Conservation program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been a partner on the American conservation landscape - delivering resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships.
We work with our partners and engage the public, using a science-based approach, to conserve, restore, and enhance fish and other aquatic resources for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Our Vision
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program will be a national leader in achieving sustainable populations of fish and other aquatic species and conserving and restoring their habitats for the benefit of current and future generations.
In 1871, people recognized that America’s fisheries were in trouble and called on Congress to act. The United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries was formed on February 9, 1871, the first federal agency created to study and protect a natural resource. Today we conserve threatened and endangered species, restore declining populations of native fish and aquatic species so they don't become endangered, mitigate the impacts of federal water projects to Tribal and recreational fisheries for the public, and work with the states to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive and injurious, or harmful, species.