Washington, DC. – August 13, 2018 – The recreational fishing industry and conservation partners of the National Fish Habitat Board applaud the efforts of Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) for introducing H.R. 6660, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act on Wednesday, August 8, 2018. This legislation will codify the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, a national program to protect, restore and enhance fish habitat across the country for the benefit of recreational fishing.

“We appreciate Rep. Wittman’s office introducing this bill that is critical to codify the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, says Tom Champeau, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “This legislation is critical to keep the National Fish Habitat Partnership, which was established in 2006, moving forward. We thank all of our partners in working with Congressman Wittman’s staff in getting this legislation introduced.”

“Healthy waterways and fish populations are absolutely critical to providing clean water and sustainable fisheries,” Wittman said in a statement on his website. “I am proud to introduce this legislation as it will protect and restore aquatic communities around the nation through public-private partnerships to promote conservation. Our nation’s recreational anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on our economy. It is critical that we properly maintain this sector, incorporating the needs of our recreational and commercial fishermen.”

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is comprised of 20 individual Fish Habitat Partnerships that focus on specific habitats, species or regional conservation approaches. These partnerships are built upon strategic plans and work collaboratively with federal, state and local agencies, conservation and sportsmen’s organizations, private landowners, and the business sector, to achieve long-term conservation results through on-the-ground conservation projects.

The introduction of this legislation is the culmination of efforts of partners including, Trout Unlimited, the American Sportfishing Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies among others to sustain support for the conservation projects occurring in the 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the United States. Companion legislation to H.R. 6660 was introduced in the U.S. Senate last year by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and is included in S. 1514, the HELP for Wildlife Act.

###

About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has supported nearly 750 projects benefiting fish habitat in all 50 states. The partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide; leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships. For more information visit:

http://fishhabitat.org/
http://www.facebook.com/NFHAP
https://twitter.com/FishHabitat