Climate Resilience and Native Fish Conservation in California

Building a Climate-Resilient Future for California’s Aquatic Life

In California, where extreme climate cycles collide with extraordinary aquatic biodiversity, the work of native fish conservation is both urgent and intricate. Christina Parker, President of the California-Nevada Chapter of AFS and Native Fishes Coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, brings passion and precision to a role that’s as much about resilience as it is about research. From emergency rescues to strategic reintroductions, she leads efforts to protect California’s most vulnerable freshwater species, many of which are often overlooked and underappreciated.

Parker sees climate adaptation as an evolving challenge that calls for science, creativity, and compassion. Through species translocation and habitat restoration, she and her colleagues are building pathways toward long-term survival, especially in cooler, spring-fed streams that may withstand future extremes. With every fish she moves and every stream she repopulates, Christina is laying the groundwork for a future where California’s children and grandchildren can still witness the beauty and diversity of their native fish.