Go All In for Native Freshwater Fishes on Giving Tuesday
Conservation Fisheries, Inc. has spent nearly 40 years leading the way for native, non-game fish restoration in Southern Appalachia and beyond.
Our founders began in the 1980’s with a rare combination of skills: they were trained as fisheries biologists who were used to learning about fish in jars of formalin, and were also aquarists who enjoyed the observation-based learning that accompanies watching fish swim around their tanks. They also had a knack for splashing around in the water. That combination of skills, paired with an overwhelming passion for native freshwater fishes, fostered the environment that makes Conservation Fisheries, Inc. what it is today. Today, our biologists pull from both professional and personal skill sets and interests to give the best possible care and attention to these rare, non-game fishes. This unique blend is what makes the restoration of these species not only possible, but successful.
Investing in the health of freshwater ecosystems always makes a big impact downstream.
Freshwater biodiversity and restoration benefits more than these fishes. It begins with native species being returned to their historical habitat. Suddenly, with a healthier fish population, the freshwater mussel populations can more easily recover. With a healthy mussel population our rivers and streams are cleaner, benefitting all of its inhabitants and their ecological communities being better balanced for it. Healthy river communities support a healthy community for people, too! It provides us with clean water to drink, to wash and grow our food with, and even to swim, boat, fish, and play in!
Your dollar swims a long way at CFI.
Nutritious fish food. Rigorous water quality testing. Specialized substrate and habitat. You name it! Your donation goes directly to our hatchery fund to ensure that all of our fish have what they need to thrive in our facility before being released into their native rivers and streams. And it’s not just the fish! We have biologists working tirelessly every day to make sure that our fish are well taken care of, our organization is thriving, and our community is well informed about this truly spectacular corner of science. Funding for the work we do serves as a safeguard among the ever-changing landscape of life for people, animals, and the environment that we share. Your support and contributions ensure that we can continue to do this vital restoration work for decades to come.
We are less than $25,000 away from our year-end goal of $100,000.
Today is Giving Tuesday. During a season that can feel overwhelming and entirely too busy, we invite you to think about community. Fish communities. River and stream communities. Southern Appalachian communities. Our communities. Conservation Fisheries’ work would not be possible without all of these communities, and more. We know that times are tough and spare change isn’t always easy to come by, especially this time of year. If the restoration work CFI does is important to you, and if you have the means to support our community this Giving Season, we would be more than grateful. Thanks to a generous match donation from one of our board members your gift will even be matched up to $10,000. Your contribution offers stability in a world of constant change.
Thanks for helping us to Save the Fish.
— The CFI Team