Native fish conservation areas: A vision for large-scale conservation of native fish communities

Jack E. Williams; Richard N. Williams; Russell F. Thurow; Leah Elwell; David P. Philipp; Fred A. Harris; Jeffrey L. Kershner; Patrick J. Martinez; Dirk Miller; Gordon H. Reeves; Christopher A. Frissell; James R. Sedell

Native fish conservation areas: A vision for large-scale conservation of native fish communities

Fisheries

By: Jack E. Williams, Richard N. Williams, Russell F. Thurow, Leah Elwell, David P. Philipp, Fred A. Harris, Jeffrey L. Kershner, Patrick J. Martinez, Dirk Miller, Gordon H. Reeves, Christopher A. Frissell, and James R. Sedell

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Abstract

The status of freshwater fishes continues to decline despite substantial conservation efforts to reverse this trend and recover threatened and endangered aquatic species. Lack of success is partially due to working at smaller spatial scales and focusing on habitats and species that are already degraded. Protecting entire watersheds and aquatic communities, which we term "native fish conservation areas" (NFCAs), would complement existing conservation efforts by protecting intact aquatic communities while allowing compatible uses. Four critical elements need to be met within a NFCA: (1) maintain processes that create habitat complexity, diversity, and connectivity; (2) nurture all of the life history stages of the fishes being protected; (3) include a long-term enough watershed to provide long-term persistence of native fish populations; and (4) provide management that is sustainable over time. We describe how a network of protected watersheds could be created that would anchor aquatic conservation needs in river basins across the country.

Suggested Citation

Williams, J.E., Williams, R.N., Thurow, R.F., Elwell, L., Philipp, D.P., Harris, F.A., Kershner, J.L., Martinez, P.J., Miller, D., Reeves, G.H., Frissell, C.A., and Sedell, J.R., 2011, Native fish conservation areas: A vision for large-scale conservation of native fish communities: Fisheries, v. 36, no. 6, p. 267-277.

ISSN: 1548-8446 (online)

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Native fish conservation areas: A vision for large-scale conservation of native fish communities
Series title	Fisheries
Volume	36
Issue	6
Year Published	2011
Language	English
Publisher	American Fisheries Society; Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Publisher location	Bethesda, MD; Philadelphia, PA
Contributing office(s)	Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Description	11 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Fisheries
First page	267
Last page	277
Country	United States