The National Fish Habitat Partnership seeks a candidate representing the commercial fishing industry to join the National Fish Habitat (Board). Join our efforts to protect, restore, and enhance fish habitat nationwide by submitting your application by March 31, 2025. Please email your resume and letter of interest to info@fishhabitat.org.   

Additional Information
The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board (Board) seeks nominations from organizations or individuals whose work and interests include fisheries and aquatic habitat conservation to fill one vacant seat on the Board representing the commercial fishing industry. The term of the Board seat will be three years once elected to the Board. The Board views the wide-range of its members and their respective organizations as critical to our conservation mission to protect, restore, and enhance our country’s fish and aquatic communities through a network of partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people. The National Fish Habitat Partnership Board’s membership was codified in 2020 (reauthorized in 2024) through the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act) Section 203(b)(5) to implement the vision and requirements of the ACE Act and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

What is the National Fish Habitat Board?
As detailed in the ACE Act and Board’s National Fish Habitat Action Plan, the Board through its bylaws facilitates the coordination of fish habitat conservation efforts through 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the United States. The Partnerships focus on specific geographic regions, species, or habitat types and use an evidence-based, scientific approach to conservation. The 28-member Board is   composed of representatives from federal and state agencies, Tribes, non-governmental organizations, private industry, and other partners. Through participation in committees and ad hoc working groups, Board members are responsible for the following:

•    Supporting the national network of Fish Habitat Partnerships
•    Reviewing Fish Habitat Partnership project submissions
•    Establishing National Conservation Priorities
•    Communicating NFHP activities with a variety of audiences including Congress
•    Developing national habitat assessments to evaluate the condition of U.S. aquatic habitats
•    Further implementing NFHP provisions of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act and Reauthorization.

About the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP): 
Since 2006, NFHP has supported over 1,500 projects and has put over $600 million in conservation projects on the ground benefiting fish habitat throughout all 50 states. This effort works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest effect on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships that are organized around key fish species, geographic areas, or important fish habitats. In 2020, NFHP was recognized by Congress as part of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act and was reauthorized in 2024. NFHP guidance and policies are developed in conjunction with our partnerships and National Fish Habitat Board. For more information, visit: https://fishhabitat.org/.