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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laury Parramore
703/358 2541
Administration Bolsters Federal Funding for
National
Fish Habitat Action Plan
FEB. 7, 2006 – WASHINGTON, D.C.
-- The Bush Administration yesterday
provided key support for an unprecedented
approach to fisheries conservation by
requesting $3 million for the National Fish
Habitat Action Plan in the President’s
proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget. The
funding, which appears in the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Fisheries Program
budget, would support fish habitat projects
identified by partnerships established under
the action plan. In FY 2006, $1 million was
made available for these purposes.
“The Administration’s confidence in the
National Fish Habitat Action Plan further
energizes the large and diverse partner base
that supports this historic effort,” said
Douglas Austen, executive director of the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and
chairman of the action plan’s Core Work
Group. “These funds will be applied on the
ground to fish habitat partnerships that
make a difference and that are models for
success.”
If
approved by Congress, additional funding for
the Action Plan would be used for projects
similar to the Eastern Brook Trout Joint
Venture, the Western Native Trout Initiative
and other partnership-oriented efforts. For
more information about these initiatives,
visit
www.fishhabitat.org. Fish
habitat partnerships are also supported by
Multistate Conservation Grants, which
address regional or national level
priorities of state fish and wildlife
agencies. During the last two years, $2.9
million has been invested in these projects
under the grant program, which is
cooperatively managed by the FWS and the
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies.
The budget announcement was made as scores
of partners, including states, numerous
federal agencies, private conservation
organizations and the sportfishing industry,
work to refine the draft National Fish
Habitat Action Plan. The draft plan will be
considered for adoption by state fish and
wildlife agency directors at the
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies Business Meeting at the
North American Wildlife and Natural
Resources Conference March 22 in Columbus,
Ohio.
The final National Fish Habitat Action Plan
is scheduled for release April 24 during
Congressional Casting Call 2006, which will
take place on the banks of the Potomac River
in Washington, D.C. For more information
about Casting Call, visit
www.fishhabitat.org.
PRESS NOTE:
Key officials representing the National Fish
Habitat Action Plan will be available for
interviews at the Bassmaster Classic in
Orlando, Fla., Feb. 23 and 24 and at the
North American Wildlife and Natural
Resources Conference March 22 and 23 in
Columbus, Ohio. To schedule interviews and
for more information about National Fish
Habitat Action Plan events contact Laury
Parramore at 703/358 2541 or
laury_parramore@fws.gov.
For more information about
the National Fish Habitat Initiative
and to sign up as a partner, please
visit
www.fishhabitat.org.
The National Fish Habitat
Initiative is a coalition of Federal and
State natural
resource agencies, Tribes, conservation
organizations, businesses and other
nongovernmental interests dedicated to
providing a national framework to
protect, restore and enhance fish habitat. |
