WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO

PROTECT. PRESERVE. RESTORE.

NATIVE FISH COALITION IS AN APOLITICAL, ALL-VOLUNTEER, GRASSROOTS, DONOR-FUNDED, NON-

PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING, PRESERVING AND RESTORING NATIVE

FISH POPULATIONS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF THE FISH AND THEIR HABITATS.

While most of our members are avid fly fishers, our focus

is not limited to so-called “gamefish.” We are however

primarily - but not exclusively - focused on salmonids, and

the reason for this is twofold: Salmonids are often the

species that are most threatened, and what is good for

these native “indicator species” is good for all native fish.

OUR VISION

No lake, pond, river or stream is truly restored, healthy, clean or whole until its full complement of self-

sustaining native species is intact and it is devoid of non-native species and hatchery-raised fish.

While this is not always attainable or feasible, it is our goal.

PROTECTING NATIVE FISH THROUGH…

• Information

• Education

•Regulation

•Restoration

•Reclamation

BY ADDRESSING…

•Mortality

•Harvest

• Stocking

• Invasives

•Habitat

WITH A FOCUS ON…

•Brook Trout• Sea-Run• Pond-Dwelling• Headwater Streams

•Arctic Char

•Atlantic Salmon

• Landlocked Salmon

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN…

•Anglers

• Fishing groups

• Fish conservation organizations

• State and federal fish & game agencies

•Water protection organizations

•Non-fish conservation organizations

• State and federal conservation agencies

NATIONAL BOARDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MAINE BOARDVERMONT BOARD NEW HAMPSHIRE BOARD

NATIVE FISH COALITION - ORGANIZATION

NOTES: • STATE CHAPTERS WILL BE ADDED BASED ON NEED AND RESOURCE AVAILABILITY.• EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ADVISORY COUNCILS ARE NON-VOTING ENTITIES.

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

VERMONT ADVISORY COUNCIL

MAINE ADVISORY COUNCIL

NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVISORY COUNCIL

Our group is made up of experienced activists, trained

scientists, authors, writers, bloggers, subject matter

experts, technical/financial experts, fishing guides and

outfitters, teachers and people who have a passion for

and commitment to wild native fish.

Board members have worked for or been involved in:• The Nature Conservancy• Audubon• Trout Unlimited • Appalachian Mountain Club• Natural Resource Council of Maine• Somerset Woods Trustees• Sportsman's Alliance of Maine• Dud Dean Angling Society• Dept. of Interior: National Park Service• Dept. of Interior: Bureau of Land Management• Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife• Fly Fish America Magazine• Fly Rod & Reel Magazine• Southern Trout Online Magazine• Maine Sportsman Magazine

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

• Logistics

• Legal

• Funding

•Contacts

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Set general direction of organization

•Approve voting members at all levels

•Approve projects at the state level

•Approve/provide funding

STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Set general direction of state chapter

•Recruit and nominate voting members

•Recruit non-voting Advisory Council

• Implement state-level projects

ADVISORY COUNCILS

•Provide subject matter expertise

•Provide strategic advice

•Provide expert testimony

•Provide technical support

•Provide legal support

While Native Fish Coalition has a hierarchy and officers, it is out of need not want. Certain functions must be

performed to keep the organization running and this is the best way to ensure they are. We are a peer

organization and all decisions are made as a group.

CURRENT STATE CHAPTERS

•Maine

•New Hampshire

•Vermont

PROPOSED STATE CHAPTERS

•Massachusetts

•Connecticut

•Rhode Island

•New Jersey

•New York

•Pennsylvania

POTENTIAL STATE CHAPTERS

•Maryland

•Virginia

•West Virginia

• Tennessee

•North Carolina

• South Carolina

•Georgia

INITIAL PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE

• Wild native fish presentations (information/education)

• Formal “Native Trout” management programs (policies/laws)

• Signage for formally designated wild native salmonid waters

• Wild native salmonid conservation messages in fishing rule books

• “Native Trout” license plates (fund-raising)

• Mandatory fin-clipping of stocked fish

• Address stocking over wild native salmonids

PROJECTS WILL BE EVALUATED, APPROVED AND PRIORITIZED BASED ON SEVERAL CRITERIA:

• Need and importance – level of threat, level of attention

• Impact – focus on things that will make a difference

• Level of opposition – we will not pick fights we can’t win

• Likelihood of success – we will avoid high risk projects

• Cost – with limited funds we need to spend our money wisely

• Manpower – we won’t bite off more than we can chew

CURRENT CHAPTERS…

FUTURE CHAPTERS?