Dear Chair Simpson and Ranking Pingree:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide recommendations on federal appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025. Founded in 1870, The American Fisheries Society is the oldest and largest professional society of fisheries biologists, managers, and researchers in the world. The mission of AFS is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals.
AFS respectfully submits the following funding recommendations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Forest Service to secure critical funds for conservation and restoration of our country’s important fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) works with States, landowners, and other partners and stakeholders to achieve the goals of healthy, self-sustaining populations of fish and other aquatic species. Within this program, the National Fish Hatchery System has served an important role in recovering and restoring aquatic species through conservation aquaculture. AFS fully supports an increase in funding for this program for Restoring Salmon in the Columbia River Basin. However, we are particularly concerned with Administration’s proposed funding reductions for Aquatic Habitat and Species Conservation. The program’s important work to protect, restore, and recover native fish and our nation’s freshwater ecosystems must be maintained to address increasing impacts to freshwater ecosystems and native fish populations from habitat loss, fragmentation, aquatic invasive species, pollution, and climate change. AFS requests $253 million for FAC for FY 2025 to maintain funding for Aquatic Habitat and Species Conservation and for additional appropriations for Restoring Salmon in the Columbia River Basin.
The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (STWG) is the nation’s only program that encourages development and implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans. Collectively, STWG funds support strong partnerships among federal, state, tribal, private, and nonprofit entities that enable fish and wildlife professionals to implement on-the-ground conservation activities that benefit over 12,000 at-risk species, with the goal of eliminating the need to list them under the Endangered Species Act. In FY 2010, appropriations were at $90 million for the program – allowing states to complete more projects deemed necessary for monitoring and management of at-risk fish and wildlife. Subsequent budget reductions in STWG, however, have not allowed this highly successful program to reach its full potential. AFS requests that Congress increase funding for the program to at least $100 million annually.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) – Ecosystems Mission Area
The Climate Adaptation Science Centers program addresses evolving challenges posed by climate change on regional fish and wildlife, ecosystems, and community-based stakeholders. Modest budget increases in recent fiscal periods have bolstered the program’s ability to swiftly respond to demands and expand its capacity, facilitating proactive engagement of tribal communities in project design and resource allocation. Nevertheless, funding levels have failed to match identified needs, especially in equipping USGS with adequate resources to effectively convey scientific insights to stakeholders for actionable decision-making based on project outcomes. For FY 2025, AFS recommends the full realization of the Administration’s proposal, reaching no less than $69.3 million.
The Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Units (CRUs) foster federal, state, nongovernment organization (NGO), and academic partnerships to provide actionable science tailored to the needs of natural resource managers. This science plays a pivotal role in the implementation of state and federal management decisions. CRUs are an exemplary model for cooperative natural resource science programming; with the support of collaborators this program leverages an average of three dollars in outside funds for every federal dollar invested. Thanks to support from Congress, Indiana was able to establish the Indiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit hosted by Purdue University. Despite growing interest from other states, limited federal funding has constrained the expansion of units and continues to result in vacancies at existing units. To address this gap, AFS recommends a funding increase to $36 million in FY 2025, enabling CRUs to capitalize on emerging partnerships and fill vacancies in an effort to meet longstanding commitments.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
The Forest Service administers a large transportation and trails infrastructure system including roads, trails, bridges, and other types of stream crossing features. Stream crossings pose a significant challenge to water quality and the health of fish and aquatic species habitat. Legacy Road and Trail Remediation Program improves fish and aquatic species passage and reduces erosion and sediment into streams to improve water quality while increasing flood resilience. AFS requests the full $6 million in annual appropriations for FY 2025 in the Administration’s proposal for decommissioning roads, removal or replacement of stream crossing structures that are barriers to aquatic organism passage, road and trail repair and improvements and associated activities in environmentally sensitive areas; and repair and improvements on roads and trails subject to recent storm damage.
Thank you for your commitment to conserving our country’s natural resources. We appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D.
Executive Director
