MISSION STATEMENT
PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE wild NATIVE FISH POPULATIONS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF THE FISH AND THEIR HABITATS
arkansas NATIVE FISHES
Arkansas is home to approximately 200 species and subspecies of native fish, with close to 20 having been identified since 1988. This includes popular gamefish such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, spotted bass and walleye; blue, channel and flathead catfish; chain, redfin and grass pickerel; bluegill; black and white crappie; white and yellow bass; freshwater drum; green, longear, redear, orangespotted and redspotted sunfish and warmouth; alligator, spotted and shortnose gar; American paddlefish; bowfin; lake, pallid and shovelnose sturgeon; chestnut, southern brook, silver, least brook and American brook lamprey; river, silver, golden, black, blacktail, and pealip redhorse; American eel; Alabama, gizzard and threadfin shad; skipjack herring; goldeye and mooneye; smallmouth buffalo; river and quillback carpsucker; madtom; mottled, banded and knobfin sculpin; and dozens of species and subspecies of chubs, shiners, dace, stonerollers and darters.
Status, Threats and Conservation
Like most other states, Arkansas’ native fishes face many threats including angler exploitation, state and federal trout stocking, habitat degradation, development, pollution, a changing climate, and nonnative fish introductions. Hundreds of miles of native fish habitat were lost or severely compromised by the construction of large reservoirs on the White River. In doing so, miles of flowing river were impounded behind dams, and the water downstream turned into artificially cold and clear tailwaters. The Arkansas darter, a designated Species of Greatest Conservation Need, is found in only a handful of waters in the Illinois River basin. Two species are listed as Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Leopard darter and Ozark cavefish. Pallid sturgeon and yellowcheek darter are classified as Endangered. The Arkansas River shiner is considered extirpated from the state, and the harelip sucker is extinct.
arkansas nfc board
Below is our Arkansas State Board. This dedicated group of volunteers are our "boots on the ground" in Arkansas, home to a number of unique and at-risk species of stream-resident bass and other rare native fish.
arkansas nfc ADvisory CounCil
Below is our Arkansas Advisory Council. This group of volunteers represents a veritable all-star team of subject matter expertise and hands-on experience. They work with the Arkansas Board of Directors to identify areas in need of attention, while providing technical assistance.
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upcoming ARKANSAS NFC events
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arkansas nfc CONSERVATION PARTNERS
arkansas nfc BUSINESS sponsors
Please support these best-in-class businesses as they have supported the Alabama chapter of NFC and our wild native fish.
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TYLER STEPHENS grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Growing up…