The United States Fish and Wildlife Service

​The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is a federal agency mandated to manage and conserve fish, plants, wildlife and their relevant habitats for the greater good of the American people. It is a bureau inside the United States Department of the Interior that strives to achieve this mandate by working with individuals and other entities.

In 1871, fish populations started decreasing, leading Congress to establish the United States Fish Commission to study this decline. Over the following decades, the agency changed its names several times and incorporated other responsibilities involving other animals, such as fish and wildlife. The USFWS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has eight regional headquarters and other field offices located in various states.

Among its responsibilities, the USFWS enforces fish, wildlife, and conservation laws. It enforces laws such as the Lacey Act, which governs plant, fish, and wildlife transportation, as well as their sale, purchase, importation, and exportation. Its law enforcement mandate also gives it authority to investigate wildlife crime, environmental pollution and contamination, and habitat destruction. Additionally, the USFWS enforces hunting regulations and educates the public regarding fish, wildlife, and conservation laws.

Regarding protecting endangered species, the agency follows the Endangered Species Act. It ensures that threatened and endangered wildlife do not face extinction by prohibiting the taking of plants, fish, and wildlife that are listed as endangered. It also adds or removes to the list of these species depending on their numbers. Also, the agency prepares action plans on how to recover such species by restricting states from allowing permits for prohibited activities.

The agency has a migratory birds program that aims to protect, conserve, and restore migratory bird populations. Migratory birds are those that move from low resource to high resource locations depending on factors such as weather and season. In this program, the USFWS helps conserve over 1,000 bird species and their habitats by working with local, tribal, state, federal, and non-governmental partners to achieve its objectives.

The National Wildlife Refuge System entails public lands and waters that help protect and preserve some iconic plant, fish, and wildlife species. There are about 560 refuges in the country, some of which also act as nature, fish, and wildlife viewing areas. The USFWS qualifies all activities taking place in these refuges by checking if they are compatible with the statutory purpose of conserving species dependent on such lands and waters. Refuges, in this case, may be wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas, or conservation areas.

The USFWS is also responsible for restoring fish species. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program within the agency manages, conserves, and restores fish populations and their relevant aquatic habitats. Notably, this program has been part of the agency since 1871, when fish populations were in decline. This program achieves its objectives by propagating fish species, conserving fish and their habitats, managing invasive species, and providing educational and recreational opportunities to the public.

The USFWS also has other roles, such as assisting international conservation efforts and disbursing funds to territories and states. Regarding its international conservation responsibility, the USFWS works with international governments and agencies to protect and restore the planet’s diverse species and their habitats. The program oversees grant disbursement programs, provides technical assistance to wildlife managers globally, and helps conserve domestic and foreign species by regulating international trade and curtailing wildlife trafficking.

Finally, the agency gives funds to territories and states to aid in plant, fish, and wildlife restoration. The monies also facilitate fishing and hunting safety education programs. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program works to achieve these goals by providing public recreational and sport fishing opportunities. Indeed, encouraging such activities ensures that endangered species are not further threatened by providing individuals with opportunities where there are enough plentiful species.

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary; Topic- The United States Fish and Wildlife Service

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