The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is casting a wide net to launch a campaign to bring back fish to our rivers, lakes and coastlines. We call it More Fish, because that's the goal—to protect, restore, and enhance the nation's fish habitat for more fish.

The need for such a campaign is acute. Fifty percent of the nation’s waterways are impaired. Over 40 percent of the fish and other aquatic species are in decline or threatened with extinction.

Local and national fisheries experts and nonprofits have joined forces to create the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. This is the first comprehensive plan that will coordinate public and private efforts to protect, restore, and enhance fish habitats nationwide. It’s a science-based initiative to study and prioritize the conservation challenges facing fish throughout their range—from headwaters and tributaries, to coastal marine environments.

The formation of the plan was lead by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which represents all state wildlife agencies, and joined by more than 18 federal agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Service. The Foundation is taking the lead in attracting millions of dollars from the philanthropic and private sectors to help fund this national plan for restoring fish habitat.

• Protect, restore and enhance the nation’s fish and other aquatic life to healthy and thriving populations;

• Increase public awareness, access and stewardship;

• Protect, restore and enhance the nation’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, bays, and coastal and marine waters;

•Work with conservation nonprofits, federal land and water management agencies and state fish and game  agencies to support the conservation of fish and aquatic populations.

Anglers, the outdoor recreation community, corporations, foundations, and nonprofits, are invited to support the More Fish campaign. It’s a great opportunity to help restore fish habitat and aquatic species across the country. It’s also a great investment. Funds will be leveraged by support from federal and states agencies to achieve the goals of the campaign.

For more information about the More Fish campaign, visit www.morefish.org.

For more information about the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, visit www.nfwf.org.