Applies to:
Aquatic Resource Education subprogram of the Sport Fish Restoration Act - WSFR
About
The Aquatic Resource Education Program provides grant funds to the states, the District of Columbia and insular areas fish and wildlife agencies for angler education, developing outdoor ethics, stewardship and conservation to increase the public understanding of the nation’s water resources and associated aquatic life forms.
The Aquatic Resource Education Program is part of the Sport Fish Restoration Program. Spending for the Aquatic Resource Education Program is authorized in the Sport Fish Restoration Act.
Learn more about Aquatic Resource Education accomplishments.
Source of Funds
The Sport Fish Restoration Act authorizes up to 15 percent of a state's annual Sport Fish Restoration apportionment to be used for the Aquatic Resource Education Program. The District of Columbia and the insular areas are exempt from the 15% limitation.
The funds apportioned annually are derived from excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, import duties, and interest collected in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. These funds are apportioned to the states, the District of Columbia and insular areas based on a formula which includes land area, number of paid license holders, minimums and maximums.
Grants
States, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Insular Areas fish & wildlife agencies may apply for grants by contacting the specific WSFR Office or apply online at grants.gov.
Grant funds are disbursed to states for approved grants on a reimbursement basis for up to 75% of the project costs and insular areas up to 100% of the project costs.
History
The Aquatic Resource Education Program was created by the 1984 Wallop-Breaux Amendment to the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson) of 1950.
The amendment authorized up to 10 percent of annual Sport Fish Restoration apportionment to be used for aquatic resource education projects.
The Act was again amended under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998. The TEA-21 amendment increased the amount of funding authorized from 10 percent to 15 percent of the annual Sport Fish Restoration Program apportionment.
An amendment in April 2001 to 50 CFR 80 exempted the District of Columbia and the insular areas from the 15 percent limitation.
Funding
The Sport Fish Restoration Act authorizes up to 15 percent of a state's annual Sport Fish Restoration apportionment to be used for the Aquatic Resource Education Program. The District of Columbia and the insular areas are exempt from the 15% limitation.
See the SFR annual apportionments.
