The Sport Fish Restoration Program apportionments are authorized by The Sport Fish Restoration Act, which authorizes annual distributions of funds to the states and territories from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for purposes of the provision of the Act.
Sport Fish Restoration program |
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§ Sec. 777. Federal-State relationships
The Secretary (after the distribution, transfer, use and deduction under subsection (b) of this section, and after deducting amounts used for grants under section 777m of this title):
shall apportion 57 percent of the balance of each such annual appropriation among the several States in the following manner: 40 percent in the ratio which the area of each State including coastal and Great Lakes waters (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) bears to the total area of all the States, and 60 percent in the ratio which the number of persons holding paid licenses to fish for sport or recreation in the State in the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which such apportionment is made, as certified to said Secretary by the State fish and game departments, bears to the number of such persons in all the States. Such apportionments shall be adjusted equitably so that no State shall receive less than 1 percent nor more than 5 percent of the total amount apportioned.
(Aug. 9, 1950, ch. 658, § 8, 64 Stat. 433; Pub. L. 91–503, title II, § 202, Oct. 23, 1970, 84 Stat. 1103; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1014(a)(6), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1016; Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5604(b), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5088; Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, §§ 7402(c), 7404(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 484, 486; Pub. L. 105–206, title IX, § 9012(c), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 864; Pub. L. 109–59, title X, § 10114, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1928; Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title X, § 10001(d), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1621.)
What is the source of revenue for the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBT)?
Revenues are collected from manufacturers’ excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, import duties on fishing tackle, yachts and pleasure craft and a portion of the gasoline fuel tax attributable to small engines and motorboats are deposited or transferred into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBT) along with interest credited to the Fund.
How often are SFRBT funds distributed?
The SFR Act authorizes annual distributions from the SFRBT fund.
What programs are supported by SFRBT funds?
The Sport Fish Restoration Act authorizes annual distributions from the SFRBT Fund for the following:
• Administration of the Sport Fish Restoration Program - Fixed approximately $8 million W/CPI adjustment annually
• Multistate Conservation Grant Program - $3 million
• Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific and Great Lakes States Fisheries Commissions - $800,000 ($200,000 each)
• Sport Fish and Boating Partnership Council - $400,000
The remaining funds are allocated to the following programs according to the Act:
•Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) - 18.5%
•Boating Safety - 18.5% (Administered by U.S. Coast Guard)
•Clean Vessel Act - 2%
•Boating Infrastructure Grants- 2%
•Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation - 2%
•Sport Fish Restoration - 57% apportioned to states/DC/insular areas (includes funding for Aquatic Resources Education and Boating Access
Does an agency have to allocate it's annual apportioned funds between marine and freshwater fisheries projects?
Yes. Each coastal State’s fish and wildlife agency must equitably allocate the funds apportioned under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act between projects with benefits for marine fisheries and projects with benefits for freshwater fisheries.
The subprograms authorized by the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act do not have to allocate funding in the same manner as long as the State fish and wildlife agency equitably allocates Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration funds as a whole between marine and freshwater fisheries.
The amounts allocated from each year's apportionment do not necessarily have to result in an equitable allocation for each year. However, the amounts allocated over a variable period, not to exceed 3 years, must result in an equitable allocation between marine and freshwater fisheries projects.
May an agency finance an activity from more than one annual apportionment?
A State fish and wildlife agency may use funds from more than one annual apportionment to finance high-cost projects, such as construction or acquisition of lands or interests in lands, including water rights.
Marine and Freshwater Fisheries Projects- WSFR
Recreational Boating Access Subprogram - Sport Fish Restoration
Outreach And Communication - Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration
Sport Fish Restoration Eligible Activities