News Release - 06/09/09

Landmark Fish Habitat Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

Legislation offers grassroots, tanglible solutions to restore America's waterways

WASHINGTON, DC — Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Robert Casey (D-PA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Bernie Sanders (ID-VT) today introduced the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act of 2009, a comprehensive strategy to support and fund for effective conservation of our national waterways and the fisheries associated with them.  

 “The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act, which I introduced today along with Senators Bond, Casey, Stabenow, Cardin, Whitehouse, Crapo and Sanders, will revolutionize how we as a nation approach fish habitat conservation issues,” said Senator Lieberman. “With 40 percent of our fish populations in decline and half of our nation’s fresh waters already impaired, the current fragmented approach to fish habitat protection has clearly not worked and in turn put aquatic resources preservation in a race against time.” 

“This bill encourages collaborative regional conservation efforts that bring together federal government agencies, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, fishing industry groups, private land owners, stakeholders and businesses,” he added. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to enact this critical legislation to help conserve fish stocks and habitat across the country.”

The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act addresses a continuing and alarming downward trend in our nation’s fish species resulting from loss in the amount and quality of our nation’s most important freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats. To date, efforts to address threats to fish species are and continue to be disjointed, and not comprehensive enough throughout the entire nation to currently reverse this overall downward trend. 

Last year, the American Fisheries Society's Endangered Species Committee (ESC) and a U.S. Geological Survey-led team of scientists conducted a detailed evaluation of the health of our nation’s freshwater fishes.  In examining the status of continental freshwater and diadromous (migrating between rivers and oceans) fish, the ESC determined that nearly 40 percent (700 total) of fish species in North American streams, rivers and lakes are now imperiled.  This dramatic increase in the number of imperiled fish associated habitat loss and degradation since the last report over 20 years ago calls for the urgent action provided in the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act of 2009.

Under this legislation, federal and state governments, the recreational and commercial fishing industries, the conservation community and businesses will work together collectively to voluntarily conserve (protect, restore and enhance) America’s aquatic habitats.  The legislation will ensure that science-based conservation approaches that focus on the causes of habitat degradation and not on the symptoms of the many problems our waters face are utilized to change the trajectory of our nation’s waters.  

The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act also directs critical new and existing resources toward the nation’s fish and aquatic communities through voluntary partnerships that have the capacity to successfully foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people.  The legislation leverages existing and new federal, state and private funds to build voluntary regional partnerships equipped to use science based strategies and actions to solve the nation’s biggest fisheries problems associated with habitat loss and degradation.

The bill is supported by numerous leading conservation organizations including the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, the American Sportfishing Association, The Nature Conservancy, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Trout Unlimited, American Fly Fishing Trade Association and several federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations and other trade organizations, all of which share a common interest in the success of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
To date, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan’s progress has included:

Establishment of nine habitat partnerships including:

• Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership
• Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
• Western Native Trout Initiative
• Midwest Driftless Area Restoration Effort
• Matanuska-Susitna Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership
• Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership
• Desert Fish Habitat Partnership
• Hawaii Fish Habitat Partnership
• Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership

Allocated approximately $11 million towards:

• On the ground habitat conservation projects through fish habitat partnerships
• The development of a National Fish Habitat Assessment – due in 2010

The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act is expected to maintain and improve the health of not only important fish habitat, but also the overall health and vitality of freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats and all aquatic life that rely on these habitats throughout the United States.

Legislation that mirrors the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act introduced in the Senate was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (HR2565) by Representative Ron Kind (WI) on May 21, 2009.     

Commentary from Fish Habitat Partners:

From Kelly Hepler, Chairman of the National Fish Habitat Board:
 “I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to the sponsors of the bill and their commitment to improving the quality of life in this country,” said Kelly Hepler, of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Chairman of the National Fish Habitat Board. “The waterways in our country are the true lifeblood of our nation. The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act will not only provide additional fishing opportunities but will also improve the overall health of our fresh and marine waters and therefore the health of our families.”

From Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy:
“This is a landmark bill that, if passed, would show our country is moving in the right direction to protect freshwater and aquatic ecosystems,” said Mark Tercek, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy.  “With recent studies showing that fish species are in serious decline, we are in dire need of implementing a nationwide, comprehensive program to protect fish habitat.  We need to act swiftly on this important legislation.”

From Gordon Robertson, Vice President - American Sportfishing Association:
“The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act will provide new money for fish habitat conservation in this country,” said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. “It represents a ground-up approach to fishery conservation and is complimentary to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Act. By improving the nation’s fishery resources, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act will also provide more recreational fishing opportunities for America’s 40 million anglers.”

National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (Senate Bill - PDF)

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The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to treat the causes of aquatic habitat decline and fix the nation’s most pressing fisheries problems. The Action Plan is a science-based investment strategy to conserve waterways and make conservation dollars stretch farther by combining federal and privately raised funds to build regional partnerships. For more information, visit www.fishhabitat.org.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies —the organization that represents North America's fish and wildlife agencies—promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues. Found on the web at www.fishwildlife.org .