Press Releases

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies enthusiastically commends Congress for passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR 3684), which will support fish and wildlife resources and ecosystem resiliency while driving economic recovery and creating high quality jobs through new and reauthorized conservation programs. Last week Friday, November 5, 2021, the House passed the bill, sending this historic legislation to the President’s desk for enactment.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Association) commends Congress and the White House for their continued commitment to improving fish and wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity. By including critical conservation priorities within pending legislative packages, they have once again reaffirmed their commitment to empowering state and federal agencies to conserve and restore healthy habitats and species for future generations.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies strongly supports introduction of the Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act (H.R. 5692), which will strengthen partnerships between state and federal agencies in the fight against aquatic invasive species. Sponsored by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mark Amodei (R-NV), this bipartisan legislation would grant federal agencies the necessary authority to carry out inspection and decontamination of recreational watercraft within their jurisdictions while coordinating with state fish and wildlife agencies.

Together Outdoors (TO), a coalition supported by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and comprised of businesses and organizations in the outdoor recreation industry committed to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JEDI/DEI) in the outdoors, announced their membership, advisory and governance councils earlier today. The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is proud to be one of the 70+ members of this robust coalition.

During the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies 111th Annual Meeting, held September 8-14, the members recommended the approval of 42 projects to be funded through the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP).

The membership of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Association) elected Tony Wasley, Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, as its new president during its 111th Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.

The voting membership of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies passed seven resolutions during its Business Meeting held on September 14, 2021.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) recognized seven individuals, two state agencies, one federal agency, one committee and one private landowner for their dedication to advancing fish and wildlife conservation at the Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony held both in person and virtually on September 13, 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Today at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Annual Meeting, three organizations and individuals were honored by their peers as recipients of the Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources. The Climate Adaptation Leadership Award was established in 2016 to recognize exemplary leadership in the field of climate adaptation and the protection of the Nation’s vital natural resources and the people who depend on them in a changing world.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies applauds this week’s announcement that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has opened new or expanded hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 2.1 million acres, the largest expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities in recent history. This expansion of outdoor recreation is consistent with the administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative.