Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration

With an extensive shoreline and vast wetland areas, Florida is host to the most aquatic habitat in the contiguous United States. 

In the past 100 years, one half of these aquatic resources have been negatively impacted. FWC’s Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration Section (AHCR) works to restore, maintain, and enhance these aquatic resources for the people and wildlife of Florida.

Aquatic restoration and enhancement projects are designed to improve habitat conditions and ensure the long-term sustainability of fish and wildlife resources that depend on these systems. The section has two programs, one primarily focused on freshwater aquatic resources and the other focused on marine and estuarine resources. Restoration activities are coordinated across the aquatic landscape to provide for more complete restoration by having freshwater habitat enhancements complement those activities conducted in the bays and estuaries.

Discover more about section projects and priorities below.