"A net gain of fishery resources, protection of natural biodiversity, and enhanced public use."
This is the Fish and Wildlife Service vision for America's fisheries. The words may be few, but the challenge is great. Ever increasing demands on our fishery resources require an aggressive approach to fishery management. Our society demands action to overcome the effects of habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, aquatic nuisance species, and land and water development. The Service's fishery program is ready for these challenges and is committed to the conservation and enhancement of the Nation's fishery resources.
The problems facing our Nation's fishery resources are diverse and challenging. Some of the challenges confronted by the Service's fishery program include:
-Declining populations of Pacific salmon due to overfishing and loss of
habitat from logging, grazing, and farming practices, and construction and
operation of dams.
-Increased numbers of endangered species due to damming of rivers and
water withdrawals.
-Reduction of lake trout and other fish species in the Great Lakes due to
habitat destruction, pollution, overharvest, and aquatic nuisance species.
-Declining populations of striped bass, sturgeon, and paddlefish due to
habitat loss, damming of rivers, overfishng, and pollution.
-Decreased runs of Atlantic salmon due to construction of dams, loss of
habitat, and pollution.
Since 1871, the Service has protected and enhanced fish populations and their habitat. Through partnerships with other Federal, state, and public agencies, we work to conserve the nation's fisheries for the long term benefit of the public and provide technical expertise to ensure decisions of other agencies result in the protection and conservation of fish populations and habitat. We develop new concepts and improved technology in fisheries management and fish rearing. Information regarding these advancements is available to all through training courses, publications, and technical assistance. Our leadership protects and enhances fishery resources for future generations.
Public support and awareness is essential to the conservation and continued viability of our Nation's fish and wildlife resources. Our fisheries program develops and supports activities that introduce the American public to environmental values, resource conservation and management, and outdoor recreational opportunities.
The primary focus of fish management is to conserve and protect fish and their habitats. This is accomplished by participating in planning efforts with other federal and state agencies. As part of this effort, the Service provides technical information, advice, and other forms of support. We provide the foundation for scientific understanding of fish and their habitats. This understanding ensures that the best management actions are used to conserve and protect our nation's river, stream, lake, and coastal fisheries.
The nation's fisheries have been seriously impacted by years of overfishing, pollution, dam construction, commercial development, and other activities that have destroyed critical fish habitat. A major goal is to restore native fisheries to self-sustaining levels. To accomplish this, we work closely through partnerships with other agencies. Our National Fish Hatchery System annually distributes approximately 200 million fish and 300 million fish eggs of over 60 different species and operates hatcheries that are supported by fish health, technology development and research centers.
The Service's fish health and technology development centers improve and develop new methods of the management and culture of fish. They provide leadership in evaluating the hatchery products, the identification and control of fish diseases, developing methods to protect and restore threatened and endangered species, investigating the effects of environmental contaminants on fish and providing information to user groups.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a diverse work force and network of field stations to address our Nation's fishery resource challenges. These include:
-National Fish Hatcheries that produce over 60 species of fish to facilitate restoration/mitigation of nationally significant fishery resources and to enhance recreational fishing opportunities.
-Fish and Wildlife Management offices that provide assistance with the management of fish and wildlife to Service wildlife refuges, Native Americans, and other public agencies, and the private sector.
-An Office of Training and Education that provides training in state-of-the-art techniques for Federal, State, and private fishery biologists, managers, and aquaculturists.
-The Division of Law Enforcement that works to enforce Federal fish and wildlife laws to protect our valuable fishery resources.
-Fish and Wildlife Enhancement offices that assess the impacts of dredge and fill activities, dams and reservoirs, and energy projects to ensure consideration of fisheries resources in development planning and to enhance the identification, protection, and restoration of aquatic habitats.
-Fishery Health Centers and Technology Development Centers that investigate and provide scientific information on fish nutrition, genetics, health, and ecology to improve culture and management techniques.
-Over 200 National Wildlife Refuges that manage fishery resources and provide quality recreational opportunities nationwide.
-Federal Aid offices that administer funds collected as part of the Sport Fish Restoration Act. Applying the "user pay" concept to fish restoration, an excise tax is added to the purchase price of sport fishing equipment. These funds are distributed to the states to enhance sport fishing and improve public access.
-Endangered Species offices that formulate recovery plans to help ensure species survival so that, ultimately, threatened or endangered species can be restored to a healthy status.
The Service has been growing fish for more than 120 years. Our experience and expertise provide the foundation for the United States aquaculture industry. We have a commitment to make our expertise and capabilities available to "Help Aquaculture Grow". Service expertise includes: fish health management, fish nutrition, genetics, water quality management, registration of drugs, facility design, and development of culture systems.
The four general categories of freshwater fish managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
COLDWATER FISH: includes fish such as trout, with preferred water temperature ranges between 45 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
COOLWATER FISH: includes fish such as northern pike and walleye, with preferred water temperature ranges between that of cold and warmwater fish.
WARMWATER FISH: includes fish such as largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish, with preferred water temperature ranges between 65 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
ANADROMOUS: includes fish such as salmon and striped bass that mature in saltwater and then return to freshwater to spawn.
Rainbow trout prefer cold, fresh water that seldom exceeds 65 degrees F. These fish are found in lakes and streams. Stream populations prefer moderate water flow and gravel bottoms with a series of pools and riffles. An anadromous variety of rainbow trout exists in the Pacific Northwest known as the steelhead. Rainbow trout are managed for recreational fishing and to mitigate losses caused by water development projects.
An anadromous fish, striped bass live in salt water and return to freshwater to spawn. Their native range is along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and they have been successfully introduced in coastal waters of California, Oregon, Washington, and in large inland reservoirs. Striped bass spend most of their life feeding in coastal areas and bays. As water temperatures warm in the spring, spawning runs begin up freshwater rivers. The Service, in cooperation with other agencies, is involved in a major striped bass restoration effort along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
The walleye is a coolwater fish found in both lakes and large rivers. Walleye prefer temperatures warmer than those suited for trout. Spawning occurs during the spring. An open water feeder, the walleye is a highly prized sport fish. Walleye are managed for recreational fishing in the large rivers and reservoirs of the Mid-Western United States.
Razorback suckers are found in large streams that are tributaries to the Colorado River. They are near extinction because of habitat destruction throughout their range. The Colorado River was originally a river system with a harsh environment where few fish species were able to adapt. The construction of dams, reduction of river flows, and competition by non-native species have threatened the existence of native fishes. The Service is working to restore the razorback sucker to its historical population levels.
Largemouth bass prefer warm, weedy lakes. Largemouth bass are found in the southern United States and they have been introduced elsewhere. Spawning occurs at temperatures of 60 - 70 degrees F, generally in the spring of the year. Eggs are deposited in a nest and are guarded by the male fish. Young largemouth feed on insects and small fish. The largemouth bass is a highly prized sport fish. The Service manages these fish for recreational fishing on Federal lands.
A native of the Great Lakes, lake trout prefer deep, cold lakes. Spawning occurs in the fall over areas that typically consist of gravel, boulders, and rubble in water depths varying from 1 to 100 feet deep. The sea lamprey occupies the same type of habitat as adult lake trout and is a major parasite on that species. As a result, lake trout populations have been decimated. The Service is working in cooperation with other agencies to restore self-sustaining populations of lake trout in the Great Lakes.
The chinook salmon is a native of the Pacific coast. Chinook salmon are anadromous fish and, like all other Pacific salmon, die after spawning. After spending 1-5 years in the ocean, chinook return to their stream of origin to spawn. Eggs are deposited in a gravel nest known as a redd. Once hatched, the young fish remain in freshwater streams until spring when water temperatures and flows begin to rise. At this time they are called smolts and begin their migration to the ocean. The construction of dams on major western rivers has impeded the migration of the chinook salmon. The Service is actively involved in restoring chinook populations in the Pacific Northwest.
Atlantic salmon, an anadromous fish, are native to the Northeastern United States. Adults enter New England rivers from May-June. Unlike Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon do not die after spawning and can spawn several times. A spawning redd is constructed in gravel. Young Atlantic salmon are referred to as parr. Salmon parr spend their early life in freshwater streams. Atlantic salmon begin their migration to the ocean as temperatures begin to rise in the spring (reaching 41 degrees F) and are accompanied by an increase in stream water flow. At this time salmon are referred to as smolts. Numbers of returning Atlantic salmon have been reduced due to construction of dams, habitat loss, and pollution. The Service is working to restore New England Atlantic salmon populations.
The Service is committed to optimize the opportunities for people to enjoy the Nation's recreational fisheries.
We work to ensure the future quality and quantity of the Nation's recreational fisheries.
This is done through partnerships with other governmental agencies, States, Tribes, conservation organizations, and the public to effectively manage the Nation's recreational fisheries.