June 11, 2025
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies applauds the House introduction of the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 (H.R. 3858). The bill was introduced yesterday by Congresswoman Dingell (D- MI) and Congressman Wittman (R-VA).
“For 75 years, the Sportfish Restoration Act has been providing funding for fishery conservation, boating access, and aquatic education,” said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “This funding provides critical support to state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies, ensuring that sport fish populations and aquatic habitats are healthy, sustainable, and available for future generations.”
This year is the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Act. No other funding method has had the same longevity, consistency, and significance for fisheries management in the United States. Later amendments to the Sport Fish Restoration Act greatly expanded its funding base to include motorboat fuel tax receipts, duties on imported boats, and an excise tax on electric engines. In 2024, states and territories received more than $381 million in Sport Fish Restoration funds to support the management of sport fisheries, production and stocking of fish, and maintenance of public access sites.
“With 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, Michigan is home to great fishing and boating opportunities,” says Shannon Lott, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director. “I thank Congresswoman Dingell and Congressman Wittman for introducing the bill to reauthorize the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which will ensure that Michigan continues to receive critical funding generated from excise taxes paid on fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, and electric motors to support its efforts to restore and managing sportfish and provide public access for recreational boating.”
With current authorization set to expire at the end of fiscal year 2026, the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 would reauthorize the Trust Fund until 2031.
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.