RAE joins Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership
Following the June meeting of the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) steering committee, Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) officially joined the group as a partner organization.
The committee approved the membership by unanimous vote, recognizing the vast overlap in partnership opportunities and common interests of the two organizations.
“RAE is excited to join ACFHP as a partner group,” said Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of RAE. “Coastal fish habitat restoration is a cornerstone objective of our organization and provides a myriad of benefits not just to fish, but our coastal communities and wildlife. Improving habitat for fish, such as instituting living-shorelines, removing fish passage barriers, and reconnecting rivers to their floodplains, often provides the dual benefit of protecting shorelines and infrastructure from flooding, increased storm intensity, and other impacts of climate change.”
Of the 20 national fish habitat partnerships, ACFHP is one of 10 established to protect, restore, and enhance fish habitats in coastal and marine environments. The group achieves this mission through outreach, on-the-ground habitat restoration, scientific research, fish habitat assessments, project coordination, and distribution of resources.
“ACFHP is excited to partner with RAE on our shared mission to conserve fish habitat along the Atlantic coast. The confluence of ACFHP’s and RAE’s work rests in both the application and collaboration that define both organizations. We look forward to bringing our joint resources to bear on coastal fish habitat conservation efforts from Maine to Florida with our new RAE partner” said Kent Smith, ACFHP Chair.
As the leading convener of coastal communities and restoration stakeholders in U.S., RAE looks forward to expanding our network of partners and learning from leaders in fish habitat restoration to improve our understanding of needs and threats facing our coastal aquatic resources.
We will be joining RAE member groups North Carolina Coastal Federation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and American Littoral Society; Affiliate Member groups Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy; and other partners such as the Pew Charitable Trusts, NOAA, and multiple state and federal fish and wildlife agencies as partner groups with ACFHP.
The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership is also an Affiliate Member of Restore America’s Estuaries.
