Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program

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Stored: Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
Type Program
Sponsor Organization Office of Conservation Investment
Top Organization Department of the Interior
Creation Legislation Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937
Website Website
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.
Program Start 1937
Initial Funding $5 million
Duration Ongoing
Historic No

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.

Official Site

Goals

  • Restore and conserve fish, wildlife, and habitats across states and territories.[1]
  • 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.

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External links

Social media

References

  1. ↑ "Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Overview," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment, accessed February 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Office of Conservation Investment," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment, accessed February 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "WSFR History," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment, accessed February 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Wildlife Restoration Program," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/service/wildlife-restoration, accessed February 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "WSFR Implementation," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/office-conservation-investment, accessed February 19, 2025.
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