This year, NOAA Fisheries is funding three projects to restore habitat through the coastal National Fish Habitat Partnerships. These projects will actively engage local communities—including anglers—who make critical contributions to fish habitat conservation nationwide. The projects demonstrate our commitment to restoring fish habitat and supporting access to sustainable saltwater recreational fishing, a popular pastime that boosts the U.S. economy.

Recreational Anglers Collect Data to Help Protect Groundfish Habitat in Oregon

Sponsoring Partnership: Pacific Marine & Estuarine Partnership

Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife will partner with recreational anglers from underserved communities to collect long-term data in unique nearshore Oregon coastal habitat. The data collected will be part of monitoring projects that help inform how to best manage coastal waters into the future. During hook-and-line surveys, anglers will measure the size and count the abundance of fish caught in Oregon’s Cascade Head Marine Reserve. The reserve is part of a system of five marine reserves in the waters along the state’s coast. They were designated to help conserve marine habitats and biodiversity. They also serve as living laboratories to learn about Oregon’s nearshore ocean environment and the effects that protections have on these areas over time.

Continuing Community-Based Coral Restoration in West O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi Sponsoring Partnership: Hawai’i Fish Habitat Partnership

Kuleana Coral Restoration will expand upon last year’s pilot community-based coral restoration project at Pokai Bay in West O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi. This year they will plant coral at additional sites outside the bay. This will help to cultivate connective fish habitat around the bay, an important subsistence and recreational fishing area for the local community. To measure the success of coral restoration efforts in increasing fish biodiversity, Kuleana Coral Restoration will conduct fish surveys in partnership with Hawaiʻi Monitoring and Reporting Collaborative. Finally, local anglers and youth residents will prepare large finger coral fragments for outplanting through two annual community engagement events with Na Kama Kai.

Engaging Students From Underrepresented Communities in South Carolina Coastal Restoration Sponsoring Partnership: Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Expanding on their pilot project, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will develop a curriculum to teach students and coastal communities about the ecological importance of coastal habitat restoration to recreational fisheries through hands-on activities. Students frm low-income families and alternative learning programs will directly improve fish habitat in the salt marsh by planting smooth cordgrass provided by From Seeds to Shoreline. They will deploy oyster habitat made from recycled crab traps collected by Ocean Aid 360’s Marine Habitat Restoration Program. Students will also have the opportunity to fish and crab during the events.

Read the full article from NOAA, here: National Fish Habitat Partnership Projects to Engage Recreational Fishing Communities and Restore Habitat , NOAA Fisheries