The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a comprehensive effort to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms. The Partnership is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges.

What We Do

Our Services

The National Fish Habitat Partnership works through a network of 20 regional Fish Habitat Partnerships to restore the health of our nation’s aquatic ecosystems for fish and people to rely on. These partnerships leverage federal, state, tribal, and private resources to achieve the greatest impacts on conservation. We protect, restore, and enhance fish habitat through partnerships that foster conservation gains, improve the quality of life for communities, and improve infrastructure to be more resilient to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change .

Impacts of the National Fish Habitat Partnership

  • In 2024, the USFWS and partners are providing more than $27.4 million to support 91 fish habitat conservation projects in 29 states.
  • Since 2006, the USFWS and partners have provided over $320 million in funding support for fish habitat conservation projects that improve angling and recreational opportunities from Hawaii to Maine.

  • The 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships bring together federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector interests to assess regional fish habitat conditions and identify and prioritize their respective regions' habitat conservation needs. 

Latest Stories and Topics

Stories
Box culvert road-stream crossing
Science and Technology
Navigating Watershed Barriers
Biologists are conducting several thousand surveys in the Ochlockonee River Watershed to assess fish passage barriers and stream habitat conditions to prioritize restoration projects.
Tim Ericson, sitting at the front of a boat, paddles on the Deshka River. The photo is taken from the back of the boat, and Ericson looks back at the camera over his shoulder. The boat is filled with supplies, including moose antlers.
Our People
Tim Ericson's Elemental Experiences
From volcanic close calls to rainy river floats, the fish and wildlife biologist’s conservation career is only just getting started.
An aerial view of two rivers merging
Confluence - Connecting Partners and Conservation
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program is proud to announce completion of the 2022 annual report.
A swimming eastern brook trout, a colorful fish with red fins along a yellow belly, and yellow and red spots on its olive green body.
Habitat Restoration
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Partners Announce More than $39.2 Million for Fish Habitat
Through the National Fish Habitat Partnership, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners are providing more than $39.2 million to support 95 fish habitat conservation projects in 24 states.
Dozens of silver fish swim over a rocky stream bed.
National Fish Habitat Partnership Board Seeking Nominations for Board Membership
The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board is welcoming nominations from organizations or individuals whose work and interests include fisheries and aquatic habitat conservation to fill vacant seats or seats with expired terms on the Board.
A tall man in hardhat, dirty t-shirt, and ear protection stands next to a shorter man in straw hat, shorts, and t-shirt, both wearing work gloves, in a field.
Habitat Restoration
Volunteers for Conservation
I’m a volunteer. Nearly everyone I know is. Some volunteer for the occasional event or program. Others volunteer a substantial amount of their time to one cause or another. But what motivates a person to volunteer for conservation?
View All News

Our Services

Image of healthy brook trout stream in NY.
Image Details
Image of a healthy book trout stream in NY.
  • We protect, restore, and enhance fish habitat through partnerships that foster conservation gains, improved the quality of life for communities, and improved infrastructure that is more resilient to climate change climate change
    Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

    Learn more about climate change     .
  • We work with states, Tribes, other federal agencies, conservation organizations, and industry to implement the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
  • We provide funding, technical expertise, and on the ground coordination to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges.
Dozens of silver fish swim over a rocky stream bed.
National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordination

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a national investment strategy designed to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges and projects are identified and completed...