Seventy-five years ago, in 1950, the Sport Fish Restoration Act was passed by Congress. This law has been in force providing critical funding to U.S. states and territories in support of fisheries management activities. Photo provided by Jason DeBoer.
Have you ever been trolling for king salmon on Lake Michigan, casting for muskie at Lake Kincaid or fishing for bass or crappie in an Illinois reservoir tournament? How about fishing for big blue catfish in a power plant cooling lake, targeting walleye on the upper Mississippi River or Fox Chain O’ Lakes, enjoying a family day fishing for bluegills at a local pond or simply launching your boat at an improved ramp in a state park? Chances are the Sport Fish Restoration Act (SFRA) played a role in bringing these, and a multitude of other fishing opportunities to Illinois. Passed by Congress in 1950, and modeled after the Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, this important law has been in force for the past 75 years providing critical funding to U.S. states and territories in support of fisheries management activities.
Often called a “game-changer” in the world of sport fish conservation and management, the SFRA (aka Dingell-Johnson Act) was sponsored by Congressman John Dingell of Michigan and Senator Edwin Johnson of Colorado to provide a pot of money for state fish and game agencies to conduct projects to restore, enhance and manage U.S. sport fishery resources. It follows a user-pay approach requiring cooperation and support from anglers, tackle manufacturers, the federal government and state natural resources agencies. This user-pay model and broad-based cooperation likely explain the act’s longevity and continued popularity. Stable funding for state fish and game agencies is also why U.S. citizens and visitors enjoy some of the best public fishing in the world.
Money is generated from a 10 percent excise tax on most fishing equipment that is deposited in the U.S. Treasury’s Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered to states and territories by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The formula that directs how much each state will receive annually includes a state’s total area compared to that of all states (40 percent) and a state’s annual number of certified, paid fishing license holders compared to those of all states (60 percent). States receive at least 1 percent and no more than 5 percent of available SFRA funds annually. Puerto Rico receives a fixed 1 percent of the annual total and other territories receive between 1/3 percent and 1 percent.
To participate in the program, states and territories must pass “assent” legislation essentially agreeing to follow the provisions of the act and prohibiting any diversion of fishing license fees paid by anglers for any other purpose than the administration of state fish and game departments. Illinois’ assent legislation can be found in Article 30 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code (515 ILCS5/30-10 and 515 ILCS 5/30-15). States also must provide a 25 percent match to their annual SFRA apportionment, which is typically paid for with fishing license revenues. While the apportioning formula recognizes the importance of a state’s size, it also shows the importance of angler participation and commitment to purchase state fishing licenses.
Congress amended the act in 1984 by passing a bill sponsored by Senator Malcomb Wallop of Wyoming and Congressman John Breaux of Louisiana. The Wallop-Breaux amendment generated additional monies from a 3 percent excise tax on electric motors, tackle boxes, boats and yachts and a portion of the federal gas tax for motorboats and small engines. It also requires 15 percent of each state’s annual SFRA funds be allocated to boat access projects (e.g., boat ramp, access road and parking lot construction and repairs) and allows funds to be spent on angler education initiatives.
According to the USFWS, states and territories have to date received more than $12 billion in federal SFRA funds and, in turn, have contributed $4 billion in state matching funds. Nationally, these funds support maintenance and operation of more than 9,000 public boating and fishing access areas and more than 320 state fish hatcheries that stock over 1 billion fish annually for the creation, restoration and maintenance of public sport fisheries. This federal-state-industry partnership allows state biologists to manage and monitor 200-plus species of sport fish and helps state educators provide aquatic education and an introduction to fishing to nearly 850,000 individuals annually.
The Chief of IDNR’s Division of Fisheries, Michael McClelland, sums it up well, saying “The Sport Fish Restoration Act has helped create a legacy that license-buying anglers all over the country, including Illinois, can be proud of, knowing their enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to pay have brought lasting benefits to fishing and boating sports throughout the country.”
To learn more about the SFRA in Illinois, check out Part 2 of the story here.
Vic Santucci is IDNR’s Lake Michigan Program Manager in the Division of Fisheries. He also wears other hats for the Division, including acting Region 2 administrator and Sport Fish Restoration research and field operations grant manager.
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