MISSION STATEMENT
PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE wild NATIVE FISH POPULATIONS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF THE FISH AND THEIR HABITATS
alabama NATIVE FISHES
Alabama is said to be home to more species of fish — more than 450 in 29 families — than any state or province in North America. Roughly 325 are classified as native freshwater species, and another approximately 100 as native marine species. The state is home to sixteen river systems in three major drainages. While most species can be found in multiple river systems, some are present in just one river system, stream, spring, or cave. Alabama is home to a number of species of rare black bass including Alabama bass which were formerly known as spotted bass, redeye bass, and shoal bass. Referred to as the “brook trout of the warmwater game fish,” redeye bass were recently reclassified into five species: M. coosae or redeye bass, M. cahabae or Cahaba bass, M. chattahoochae or Chattahoochee bass, M. tallapoosae or Tallapoosa bass, and M. warriorensis or Warrior bass. Largemouth bass are the Official Freshwater Fish, and Tarpon the Official Saltwater Fish. Numerous other native fish can be found in Alabama as well including smallmouth bass, paddlefish, Gulf sturgeon, federally endangered watercress darter which is found only in a handful of springs in Alabama, federally endangered vermilion darter, and Alabama cavefish, one of the rarest freshwater fish in America and believed to be extant only in a single location.
Status, Threats and Conservation
Like most other states, Alabama’s native fishes face many threats and challenges including angler exploitation, state-sponsored and private trout stocking, habitat degradation, development, pollution, climate change, and nonnative invasive fish introductions. While Alabama has the most diverse freshwater aquatic life of any state or province in North America, it also has the highest extinction rate. Alabama also has the third-highest number of endangered or threatened species in the nation, behind Hawaii and California only. Eight species of fish are listed as “Endangered” at the federal level: Alabama cavefish, boulder darter, rush darter, vermilion darter, watercress darter, Cahaba shiner, palezone shiner, and Alabama sturgeon. Eight species of fish are listed as “Threatened” at the federal level: Spotfin chub, goldline darter, slackwater darter, snail darter, pygmy sculpin, blue shiner, Atlantic sturgeon, and spring pygmy sunfish. Forty-three species of fish are protected from harvest by the state due to low numbers.
alabama nfc board
Below is our Alabama State Board. This dedicated group of volunteers are our "boots on the ground" in Alabama, home to a number of unique and at-risk species of stream-resident bass and other rare native fish.
alabama nfc ADvisory CounCil
Below is our Alabama 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 to help identify areas in need of attention, while providing technical assistance.
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ROWELL GUEVARRA developed a passion for rivers as a result…