The North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

, tax-exempt

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

corporation that serves to bring together professional and amateur

aquarist An aquarist is a person who manages aquariums, either professionally or as a hobby. They typically care for aquatic animals, including fish and marine invertebrates. Some may care for aquatic mammals. Aquarists often work at public aquariums. They ...

s, anglers,

fisheries Fishery can mean either the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life; or more commonly, the site where such enterprise takes place ( a.k.a. fishing ground). Commercial fisheries include wild fisheries and fish farms, both ...

biologist A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual Cell (biology), cell, a multicellular organism, or a Community (ecology), community of Biological inter ...

ichthyologists Ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish, including bony fish (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), and jawless fish (Agnatha). According to FishBase, 33,400 species of fish had been described as of October ...

, fish and wildlife officials, educators and naturalists who share an interest in the

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...

, study, and captive husbandry of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

's native

fishes Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...

. It was founded in 1972.

''American Currents'' magazine

NANFA publishes the quarterly '' American Currents'' magazine, with articles on collecting, keeping, observing, conserving and breeding North American fishes.

Grants

NANFA also funds a ''Conservation Research Grant'' for research on the biology and conservation of endangered fishes, and the ''Gerald C. Corcoran Education Grant'' for educational outreach programs aimed at the general public.

Meetings and communication

It also organizes meetings and excursions at which members may discuss and (legally and responsibly) collect native fishes, remove exotic fishes, and conserve or restore natural habitats. The annual convention holds lectures, collecting trips, visits to natural history

museums A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these ...

, public aquaria or

zoo A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term ''zoological garden'' refers to zoo ...

s. There is also an active email discussion list, web site and a Forum for online discussion.

References

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External links

Official website

Official forum
Ichthyology organizations Fish conservation organizations Non-profit organizations based in Washington (state) Environmental organizations established in 1972 Scientific organizations established in 1972 1972 establishments in Washington (state)