The project purpose is to support ecologically sound science based fisheries conservation and management decisions

The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) received a $2,090,505 Sport Fish Restoration (CFDA 15.605) Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5, effective April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The grant supports ecologically sound, science-based fisheries conservation and management decisions in Connecticut through data collection, research, and monitoring activities focused on the health, abundance, distribution, and harvest of freshwater fisheries resources within the state.

Deliverables under this award include maintenance of healthy and sustainable freshwater fish populations within biological limits, directly supporting DEEP's Bureau of Natural Resources conservation mission. The project benefits the Connecticut public through enhanced recreational fishing opportunities and natural resource stewardship. The University of Connecticut serves as a subrecipient, contributing technical expertise and research capacity to the overall monitoring and assessment objectives. The Sport Fish Restoration program, funded through excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel, enables states to conduct population assessments, habitat restoration, and aquatic research activities that support sport fish conservation nationwide.

Activities to be performed include data collection research and monitoring on the health abundance distribution and harvest of freshwater fisheries in CT. Expected outcomes include maintaining healthy and sustainable populations of fisheries resources within biological limits which supports the bureau of natural resources mission of conservation. Intended beneficiaries are the public who use and appreciate these natural resources. Subrecipients include uconn.