9.8 Protecting the Habitat and Fishery Resource River Watch An important part of the stewardship of a watershed is involving the community of people who live and work in the watershed in its protection and the protection of its resources. The Nova Scotia Inland Fisheries Advisory Committee (IFAC) has a program called River Watch with a guidebook and training. River watch is a cooperative program between government and private citizens. The program allows opportunity for enthusiastic and willing people to take responsibility for that part of the environment that they value. The overall objective of the River Watch program in Nova Scotia is to help the government carry out its mandate to protect aquatic habitats throughout the province; by providing sufficient information for participants to develop an ecosystems approach to the recreational fishery and encourage anglers, landowners, and other members of the general public to join government in the enforcement of regulations designed to protect fish and their habitats. Further information and materials are available through the NSSA Adopt-a-Stream coordinator.