Our Programs

Pacific Salmon Restoration Program

Pacific Coast Salmon are in a state of ecological crisis. In the United States, the vast majority of the wild salmon populations that once widely inhabited California and the Pacific Northwest are now at risk of extinction. The reason? Decades of over-logging of old growth forests, over-grazing, over-appropriation of water, water pollution and the deliberate blockage of fish migration routes have resulted in the widespread destruction and blockage of critical spawning and rearing habitat.

IFR is working for change. The Pacific Salmon Restoration Program advocates for reforms in land use practices known to destroy salmon habitat. In the past, IFR has successfully advocated for dam removals, improved pesticide controls, and enhanced conservation regulations. Research is also vital to the program’s success. For this reason, IFR has created a robust software application, the Klamath Resource Information System (KRIS), which integrates pertinent fishery and watershed information for use in conservation efforts.

Commercial Fishermen of America

Although commercial fishing is this country’s oldest industry, there has never been an organization in the U.S. that advocates only for commercial fishermen. IFR created and is coordinating the Commercial Fishermen of America (CFA) to fill this need. The mission of CFA is to promote the common interest of the fishing industry, provide a forum to foster professional collaboration among fishermen, and educate Americans about the profession of commercial fishing. Commercial Fishermen of America has an impact on national discussions of ocean management while at the same time making sure that commercial fishing and the communities associated with it are not lost in the U.S.

Local & Seasonal Seafood Program

IFR initiated a collaborative effort between commercial fishermen, seafood restaurants, and farmers markets to promote increased awareness of the benefits of locally harvested seafood and to connect the demand for fresh high quality seafood to local supply. The Local & Seasonal Seafood Program educates the public as to where to purchase local seafood and it also provides consumers information when local fish is in season so that consumers can make informed decisions.

Wildfish Coalition

As certain fish species begin to decline, or as individuals capitalize on a new area of the marine market, aquaculture is on the rise internationally. The Bush administration is pushing for national Open Ocean Aquaculture programs as a way to combat the trade deficiet America faces in the seafood industry.

Unfortunately, many forms of aquaculture pose serious environmental risks to human and environmental health. A few of the negative consequences include: dye and toxin consumption by humans, excrement and wasted food impacts, increased outbreaks of epidemics, and a net loss of protein. IFR is coordinating a collaborative nationwide effort, called the Wildfish Coalition, to bring together various stakeholder groups with leaders in California, Florida, Alaska, Washington, and Washington D.C.

AmeriCorps mentoring and Restoration Tours

Each year, IFR mentors two AmeriCorps members from the Watershed Stewards Project (WSP). The WSP members serve 11 months and get to work on a variety of watershed and ocean policy related work. At IFR, the WSP members contribute to the weekly email newsletter, Sublegals. Members also teach the Real Science curriculum in the economically and ethnically diverse classrooms around San Francisco. WSP members assist in creating outreach materials for IFR and WSP, and attend various Bay Area outreach events and festivals throughout the year, including Oceanfest, the Salmon Festival, the Fisheries Forum, the Fishermen’s Swap Meet, various farmers markets, etc. The member participates in delta water right issues and dam deregulation projects by working to create awareness about how dams affect fish.

Recently, members were able to participate in the planning and implementation of the inaugural SalmonAid festival.

As part of their WSP commitment, members plan and organize watershed tours in Northern California to highlight restoration projects. The tours are made possible through a grant from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

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