THE HABITAT CHALLENGE

Cooperative Habitat Protection Partnerships (CHPPs) will emphasize non-regulatory approaches at the regional and community levels to supplement traditional regulatory activities to protect fish habitat. NOAA Fisheries Service’s commitment to fish habitat reflects the environmental and economic implications of habitat degradation, and the benefits of collaborative conservation efforts.

• Healthy habitats provide the foundation of productive fisheries worth billions of dollars each year to the U.S. economy.
• Human activities in coastal and marine areas can lead to unnecessary harm to habitats if they are not guided by knowledge of habitat value and vulnerabilities.

Traditional regulatory strategies are only part of the solution. Complementary approaches are needed to equip citizens, communities, and industry with the knowledge and tools to provide appropriate consideration of fish habitat in planning exercises, project designs, and decision making.

A COOPERATIVE APPROACH
Voluntary • Community based • Fish focused

Recent projects include:

1. Watershed Planning -- A partnership with the Anchorage, Alaska, municipal government will add vital fish habitat information to GIS products and the city’s watershed plan. This Community Outreach Habitat Operation (COHO) effort will yield an improved watershed plan that addresses habitat concerns in a broader context leading to more productive habitats.
2. Ecosystem Models -- Transferable models developed in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and The Wetlands Conservancy will use ecological data to identify habitat protection activities with the greatest benefits to anadromous fish in the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the country.
3. Economic Values -- A partnership with NOAA programs, state agencies, and the private sectors on the San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project will add habitat economics insights into a comprehensive and long-term management vision for subtidal systems in the Bay. The effort will provide for better informed decisions by balancing economic and ecological considerations.