Funds under this award will be used to manage sport and recreational fishing activities and wildlife resources at the boqueron state forest (BSF), the guanica state forest (GSF), and the susua state…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded $606,931 to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The award funds comprehensive management and monitoring activities across three state forests in Puerto Rico: Boqueron State Forest, Guanica State Forest, and Susua State Forest. Primary deliverables include managing recreational fishing access points, assessing aquatic bird populations and their habitats, and monitoring sport fish resources to establish baseline usage and resource condition data.

The funded activities also encompass providing technical assistance to public and private entities to support recreational environmental education and conservation initiatives in the southwest region of Puerto Rico. Through these efforts, the grantee will generate critical information regarding fish and wildlife resource utilization and habitat conditions across the protected natural areas, enabling development of evidence-based management strategies that benefit both recreational anglers and hunters in the region.

Funds under this award will be used to manage sport and recreational fishing activities and wildlife resources at the boqueron state forest (BSF), the guanica state forest (GSF), and the susua state forest (SSF), including monitoring the presence of aquatic birds and their habitats within the BSF and SSF boundaries.activities include management of fishing access points, assessing aquatic bird populations at BSF and SSF, and providing technical assistance to public and private entities to promote recreational environmental education and conservation at the BSF, SSF and GBR. As a result, important information regarding the level of use and condition of the fish and wildlife resources at the natural protected areas can be procured. This will allow to develop a holistic approach and strategies that will benefit both anglers and hunters in the southwest region of puerto rico.