Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
{{Expansion depth limit exceeded|ProgramName=Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program |ProgramType=Program |OrgSponsor=Office of Conservation Investment |TopOrganization=Department of the Interior |CreationLegislation=Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 |Purpose=The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program distributes excise taxes to states and territories for fish and wildlife conservation and recreational opportunities. It aims to restore habitats, conserve species, and enhance public access for hunting, fishing, and boating. |Website=https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment |ProgramStart=1937 |InitialFunding=$5 million |Duration=Ongoing |Historic=false }} Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) is a Department of the Interior initiative administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Conservation Investment that has disbursed over $29 billion from excise taxes on hunting, shooting, fishing equipment, and boat fuel to state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies since 1937, supporting conservation across more than 46.9 million acres as of 2025. Encompassing the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (1937) and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (1950), it funded over $1.3 billion in FY 2025 for projects like habitat restoration, stocking over 1 billion fish annually, and building 553 shooting ranges in the past five years, enhancing species like deer and waterfowl while generating a $394 billion economic impact from outdoor recreation in 2022.
{{Expansion depth limit exceeded|url=https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment}}
Goals
- Restore and conserve fish, wildlife, and habitats across states and territories.Expansion depth limit exceeded
- Enhance recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, and boating.
- Support species management and public education through state-led initiatives.
Organization
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program was sponsored by the Office of Conservation Investment (formerly WSFR Program) within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior, headquartered at 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.Expansion depth limit exceeded Funding came from excise taxes, with FY 2025 at $1.3 billion, managed by a staff administering grants to 50 states, D.C., and territories, requiring a 25% non-federal match, collaborating with over 2,000 partners including state agencies and tribes.
The leader at the Department of the Interior level was the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, currently Martha Williams (as of February 20, 2025), with WSFR operations overseen by the Assistant Director for Conservation Investment.
History
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program was established by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, signed into law on September 2, 1937, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, initially taxing firearms and ammunition for wildlife restoration.Expansion depth limit exceeded It expanded with the Dingell-Johnson Act (1950) for sport fish, growing to $1.3 billion in FY 2025 apportionments (announced January 15, 2025), with milestones like the 2000 Improvement Act and BIL reauthorization (2022), adapting to manage over 500 species and support 553 ranges by 2025.
Funding
Initial funding in 1937 was $5 million from excise taxes on firearms and ammunition.Expansion depth limit exceeded Funding began in 1937 and continues, with FY 2025 at $1.3 billion (plus $9 billion in state matches historically), apportioning funds via formulas based on land area and license sales, with no end date as excise taxes sustain efforts like 2025’s $70 million boating infrastructure grants.
Implementation
The program was implemented through grants to states and territories for habitat restoration, species management, and recreation projects like range construction and fish stocking, monitored via the Office of Conservation Investment.Expansion depth limit exceeded It operates continuously with no end date, supporting over 1 billion fish stocked annually and hunter education for millions, with 2025 efforts enhancing post-Helene recovery and range access.
Related
External links
- https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment
- https://www.fws.gov/service/wildlife-restoration - Wildlife Restoration
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program