University of Alaska Fairbanks
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fisheries Division

SEMINAR NOTICE

Achieving fish habitat conservation in Southeast Alaska through partnership

Deborah Hart
Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership

Friday, April 19, 2013
3:30pm

Presenter – Juneau -UAF Lena Point Fisheries Building, room 101
Anchorage – GHH, Room 101e
Fairbanks – O’Neill, Room 214
Homer – Kachemak Bay Campus, P103
Kodiak – KSMSC Owen, Room 225
Seward – Rae Building, Room 101

It is believed that many benefits result when multiple partners come together to share resources, align strategic actions, and speak with a united voice about the conservation and value of productive and intact fish habitats at local, regional and national scales. The Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership (SEAKFHP) formed under this hypothesis and works to foster cooperative fish habitat conservation in freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems across the southern panhandle of Alaska with specific emphasis in the dynamic watersheds and waterways that make up the Alexander Archipelago. SEAKFHP formed in 2011 to bring together local communities, tribal groups, non-profit organizations, state and federal agencies, and individual residents to assess fish habitat needs in the region, develop coordinated conservation strategies and facilitate local partnership actions. This focus on a bottom-up, locally driven, voluntary and non-regulatory effort was inspired by the approach outlined in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP). The mission of NFHAP is 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.” As a backbone to this national initiative a nationwide assessment program has been established and conservation action plans have been mobilized by a network of partnerships across the United States. Lessons learned from these efforts help to inform development of the SEAKFHP action plan.