In the 2012 President's Budget Request, the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is terminated. As a result, all resources, databases, tools, and applications within this web site will be removed on January 15, 2012. For more information, please refer to the NBII Program Termination page.
Discover the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and Data
[Image: National Fish Habitat Action Plan]
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) is an unprecedented attempt to address a nationwide fish crisis by focusing on the loss and degradation of their habitat. The Plan was born in 2001 by an ad hoc group supported by the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. This group was inspired to develop a partnership effort for fish conservation in the image of the successful and strategic North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
As a federal-level partner, the USGS-NBII was designated by the National Fish Habitat Board to house the data delivery system supporting the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. Find out more about NBII's role in the NFHAP and the data associated with the Plan.
The OneFish community directory is a fishery projects portal and participatory resource gateway for the fisheries and aquatic research and development sector worldwide. Freshwater fisheries topics are subdivided into a number of categories and subtopics. Resources for each topic include: documents, websites, projects, news, events, mulitmedia, jobs, institutes, and discussions.
Freshwater Fishes
Freshwater fish are fishes that live at least part, if not all, of their lives in bodies of fresh water with a salinity of less than .05%. Forty-one percent of all known fish species are found in freshwater. This page provides a variety of resources pertaining to freshwater fishes. Please also visit:
Recreation for information about the recreational aspects of freshwater fish, such as Fishing
Swimming the Rivers and the Seas: Anadromous Fish
Contrary to freshwater fish and saltwater fish, anadromous fish migrate between marine and freshwater. Many of these fish, such as salmon, reproduce in freshwater but spend the majority of their adult lives at sea. By associating different habitats with different stages of life, anadromous fish are able to balance salt concentrations between their bodies and their surrounding. The North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) was established to promote the conservation of anadromous fish in the North Pacific Ocean. NPAFC works with Canada, Japan, Repbublic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States on a number of different research projects. They focus on seven different species of anadromous fish.
The Electric Eel
[Image: New England Aquarium]
Electric Eel Electrophorus electricus
Description:Did you know that the electric eel is actually a fish? It eats mostly smaller freshwater fish, amphibians, and small mammals. To gain sufficient oxygen, the electric eel surfaces frequently. Through a complex biological system, a large adult can produce an electric shock strong enough to kill a human. The electric eel has an elongated square body, a flattened head, and an overall dark grayish green color with almost no scales. A mature adult can reach between 6 to 8 feet, with an average weight being around 45 pounds. Average life span in the wild is 15 years.
Habitat:Muddy bottoms in calm water, swamps, coastal plains, and creeks.
Distribution:Freshwater rivers of the lower Amazon Basin as well as Southern Florida.
Status:Not currently threatened or endangered, but may be in the future due to loss of habitat.