In 2012, three Fish Habitat Partnerships — the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP), and the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) — formed an alliance to promote a more cohesive implementation of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, which helps to direct the work of protecting, restoring and enhancing fish habitats, across their collective partner states. Through the Whitewater to Bluewater partnership, they are taking a more coordinated approach towards implementing their individual strategic plans, habitat assessments, and outreach activities.
What does this mean for you? Through this partnership, you’ll see:
- Improved communication and collaboration between the three Fish Habitat Partnerships and with you, our partners, as well as key decision makers, potential funders, and the general public.
- A more unified and strengthened conservation message across the three Fish Habitat Partnerships.
- Up-to-date and informative outreach tools and materials on conservation and restoration of fish and other aquatic species and habitats.
One specific objective of this partnership involves the development and implementation of a more streamlined communications strategy and outreach products for the three Fish Habitat Partnerships that highlight both synergies and distinguishing characteristics across the individual Fish Habitat Partnerships.
In support of this objective, the three partnerships have developed a Whitewater to Bluewater website, generously supported by the EBTJV and Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative, where one can access information and products pertaining to the Fish Habitat Partnership’s collaboration. We encourage you to check out the new website, and while you’re there, to visit the Whitewater to Bluewater Partnership’s Species Spotlight page to learn about life history and habitat needs, habitat restoration efforts, and fun facts about your favorite fish species! Winter Flounder will be featured in September/October, and new species will be spotlighted on a bi-monthly basis.
Also on the website, you’ll find the Whitewater to Bluewater Joint Communications Strategy, which consists of a variety of potential communications and outreach actions that the FHPs may select from, develop into specific projects, seek funding for, and accomplish individually or jointly, in the future.
We encourage you to visit the Whitewater to Bluewater website and learn more about EBTJV, ACFHP and SARP to help support fish habitat from our rivers to the sea!
About the Fish Habitat Partnerships
The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV) is a unique partnership between state and federal agencies, regional and local governments, businesses, conservation organizations, academia, scientific societies, and private citizens working toward protecting, restoring and enhancing brook trout populations and their habitats across their native range. To learn more about EBTJV and its projects visit www.easternbrooktrout.org or contact EBTJV Coordinator, Steve Perry, at 603-528-1371 or ebtjv.coordinator@gmail.com.
ACFHP’s mission is to accelerate the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for native Atlantic coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fishes through partnerships between federal, tribal, state, local, and other entities. To learn more about ACFHP and its projects visit www.atlanticfishhabitat.org or contact ACFHP Coordinator, Emily Greene, at 703-842-0740 or egreene@asmfc.org.
SARP’s mission is to protect, conserve and restore aquatic resources including habitats throughout the Southeast for the continuing benefit, use and enjoyment of the American people. To learn more about SARP and its partners, programs and projects, visit SARP’s website at www.southeastaquatics.net or contact SARP Coordinator, Scott Robinson, at 404-783-5241 or scottr@southeastaquatics.net.
The EBTJV, ACFHP and SARP are under the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), the mission of which is to implement the National Fish Habitat Action Plan in order to protect, restore and enhance the nation’s fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people.
This project is funded in part by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program, a program supported with funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and jointly managed with the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.
