About the National Fisheries Data Infrastructure
The need exists among fisheries managers and decision-makers for comprehensive data and information of fish
species in the United States. There have been many attempts to fill this need from various perspectives in the US,
resulting in numerous datasets that target regional or species specific issues. National programs and initiatives
need to have one source where this information is compiled to provide nationwide information to aid aquatic resources
conservation and management decisions.
The National
Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) has served as a catalyst for such an effort.
The assessment of the nation’s fish habitat condition is underway and Fish Habitat Partnerships are already
implementing conservation projects to support the goals of the NFHAP. Organizations, agencies, and partners
involved with the NFHAP have an increased need for this comprehensive information to be made available.
The goal of the National Fisheries Data Infrastructure is to create an expandable query framework which will
bring together local and regional fisheries information systems. This framework will provide fisheries managers,
decision-makers, and NFHAP partners, with a first-ever view of fish presence on a national level.