Organization Profile
Native Fish Coalition (NFC) is a nonpartisan, grassroots, donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Tom Dickins, Bob Mallard, and Emily Bastian. Based in Maine, with a virtual headquarters and statewide volunteer chapters, NFC is dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and restoration of wild native fish populations throughout the United States. Their mission is grounded in science, education, public advocacy, and ecological integrity.
NFC operates with a dual ethos of idealism and pragmatism. As they state, they strive to “turn partial solutions into total solutions” by bridging gaps between disparate conservation entities and refusing short-term fixes. They partner with like-minded agencies, from Trout Unlimited to local watershed groups, to work on habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and public policy initiatives. NFC emphasizes meaningful reform over compromise.
With a volunteer-run network of state chapters from Maine and New Hampshire to Ohio and South Carolina, NFC drives on-the-ground action. Volunteers help plant riparian buffers, assemble informational signage in trout streams, collect water samples, and advocate for regulations that promote native fish health. All fundraising, governance, and membership services are managed at the national level to ensure consistency and alignment.
NFC’s public messaging centers around a bold tagline: “PROTECT. PRESERVE. RESTORE.” They’re building a recognizable conservation brand around the concept of “native fish”, designed to elevate public awareness through bumper stickers, apparel, signage, and educational media. Their goal: make native-fish conversations mainstream and effect real ecological change.
As a trusted resource, NFC also publishes a rich library of content: podcasts, newsletters, formal letters, reports, and blog posts. They offer transparency, scholarly analysis, and documentation of restoration campaigns such as their multi-year Trout Brook project in Massachusetts. Community testimonials laud their science-based, conflict-free approach, and their ability to act quickly and effectively, even on issues others ignore.
By combining nationwide volunteer collaboration with a singular focus on habitat and species integrity, NFC ensures that native fish and the waters that support them are defended holistically. Their board and advisory councils include experts in fisheries management, ecology, and community activism, cementing their role as a leading voice in wild-fish conservation. Whether you’re angling, advocating, or restoring habitat, NFC invites involvement at every level. Consider joining at a national or local level here.
Tenkara Angler is a proud media partner of the Native Fish Coalition.
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