August 30, 2016
ACFHP is happy to announce the release of a new report titled ‘Aligning the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Efforts with Restoration Practitioners,’ which is based on a survey of over 80 fish habitat restoration practitioners along the Atlantic coast.
In the fall of 2014, ACFHP approached Atlantic coast-based restoration practitioners requesting participation in a survey regarding their fish habitat restoration focus and priorities. From this survey, we learned that these habitat practitioners are primarily working to restore tidal vegetation, submerged aquatic vegetation, riverine bottom, and shellfish beds. They also plan to continue focusing on these habitats over the next five years. Though many practitioners do not follow a restoration strategy when restoring fish habitat, those that do primarily use ‘number of barriers removed’ and ‘acreage restored’ to describe targets for riverine bottom and all other habitats, respectively. For those following a restoration strategy, progress towards accomplishing their restoration goals varied across habitats, ranging from ‘unlikely to achieve goal or strategy’ to ‘will likely exceed goal or strategy.’ Practitioners stated that the top threats to habitats in general are obstructions to fish movement, habitat connectivity, dredging and coastal maintenance, and water quality degradation/eutrophication. Fish passage, water quality, and sea level rise are the threats not currently receiving enough attention, and there should be more of a focus on buffers, shellfish beds, and salt marshes. According to these restoration practitioners, ACFHP is most helpful in helping them achieve their restoration goals by endorsing and funding projects. Results from this survey will both assist ACFHP in strategic planning and focusing our efforts on a regional and coast-wide scale.
To read the full report click here.