Southwest Tribal Fisheries Commiss

LOOKING TO THE 

FUTURE 

Stuart C. Leon, Ph.D. 

Executive Director 
Who Are We? 

Coalition of Tribes, Pueblos, and Na

with a strong desire to promote s

determination through the developm

sustainable recreational and nat

fisheries programs 
Member and Affiliated Tribes

• Jicarilla Apache • Mescalero Apache • Navajo Nation • Northern Ute Tribe • Oh-Kay Owingeh • Pueblo of Cochiti • Pueblo of Isleta • Pueblo of Laguna • Pueblo of Nambe • Pueblo of Picuris • Pueblo of Sandia • Pueblo of San Ildefonso • Pueblo of Zuni • Pyramid Lake Paiute • San Carlos Apache • Santa Clara Pueblo • Southern Ute Tribe 

• Pueblo of Acoma • Pueblo of Jemez • Pueblo of Nambe • Pueblo of Pojoaque • Pueblo of San Felipe • Pueblo of Santa Ana • Pueblo of Santo Doming• Pueblo of Taos • Pueblo of Tesuque • Pueblo of Zia • Hualapai Tribe • Salt River Pima-Maricop• Tohono O’Odham • Tonto Apache • White Mountain Apache • Fort McDowell Yavapai • Gila River Indian Comm• Colorado River Indian T
Background

• Formed in April 2002, in response to: 

• Closure of the Mescalero National Fish Hatche

Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in New 

• Chronic erosion of funding and maintenance a

Alchesay and Williams Creek National Fish HComplex on the Fort Apache Indian ReservatioArizona 
Our Vision

• Assist Tribes with creating and facilitati

partnerships 

• Provide advocacy for Tribes to obtain fu

and support 

• Provide technical assistance, training, 

education, and equipment 
Achievements

• Under SWTFC, a 2005 pilot project at the Mescalero 

Hatchery produced 20,000 lbs. of rainbow trout for distribution to Tribes 

• 2006, Tribal youth engaged in fish culture • 2008, MOU between Commission and USFWS • 2009, MTH transferred to the Mescalero Apache Trib• MTH now produces > 250,000 lbs. of rainbow trout a

while allowing Tribal youth to engage in experiential in fish culture 

• National Fish Hatchery System Strategic Hatchery a

Workforce Planning Report 

• Roundtail chub and headwater chub proposed listing 
Sovereign Nations Youth Service C




Goals: Looking Forward

• Increase inter-governmental and non-governm

partnerships 

• Emphasize native fish restoration • Maintain support for Mescalero Tribal Fish H• Engage native youth in conservation • Provide scholarships for advanced education • Sponsor workshops and conferences • Increase membership in Commission 
Why Partner with the SWTFC? 

• The unique strength of the SWTFC lies in its 

to bring together tribes with diverse fisheries resources, people, skills, fisheries programs, ageographic landscapes to provide a unified vobetter management of fisheries resources on t

respective lands. 

• Political sovereignty of Native American land

creates unique opportunities for the SWTFC tpartner with Federal, State, and Private groupachieve shared goals such as improving fishermanagement and conservation. 
Cost-effective and disease-free certificat

of non-native recreational/sport species generates significant funding to Southwestern Tribes. In turn, the Tribes are able to function important partners in recovery efforts all listed species. 
Moving Forward Together
Working with Tribes to Restore and R

Native Trout and Other Species

• SWTFC • Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of 

Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation 

• States of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nev

Southern California 

• Trout Unlimited, Federation of Flycasters, TRCP, NA

corporate America 

• Colleges and Universities 




Building Partnerships and Sharin

Information

• Annual Native and Wild Trout Confere

• JAM Arizona/New Mexico AFS/TWS M

• Southwest NAFWS and SWTFC Meet

August 9-11, 2016, Twin Arrows Resort and 

Navajo Nation 

Special partnership gatherings, exhibitors we