Wildlife, Sport Fish Program Gets Big Boost in Funding in FY 2021
Here’s a recent announcement about a grant program that caught our eye, simply for the major boost in funding it received this year.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) within the Department of the Interior has made available $1 billion to state wildlife agencies through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) to support regional conservation projects and improve wildlife habitats nationwide. Of note, the federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 allocation for the program is $121 million more than the FY 2020 apportionment due to increases in firearm, fishing equipment and motorboat revenues.
Authorized by the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937, the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950, and the Wallop-Breaux Amendment of 1984, the WSFR program establishes a conservation partnership among state wildlife agencies, the outdoor industry and the FWS. When hunters, fishers and boaters purchase equipment and fuel, the manufacturers, producers and importers of those goods pay into the Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating trust funds. FWS distributes these funds to ensure wildlife agencies in U.S. states and territories receive support.
The increased funding was praised by several stakeholder organizations affected by these funds. “The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund is of vital importance to boaters,” said Chris Edmonston, president of the Boat Owners Association of The United States Foundation. “As one of the primary implementing agencies of the trust fund, FWS plays a crucial role in the fulfillment of a promise to boaters that their tax dollars are put back into programs that help them get the most out of boating. This cornerstone of boating infrastructure, safety and aquatic conservations programs nationwide is a true user pay/everyone benefits program.”
It will be interesting to watch the progress of this program to see if next year’s apportionment experiences another significant jump like it did this year.
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