The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a record $1.5 billion in annual funding through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program to support state and local outdoor recreational opportunities, and wildlife and habitat conservation efforts.
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s President, Jessica Turner, commended this investment, noting the long success of the WSFR and the department’s commitment to provide sustainable outdoor opportunities to Americans.
“Over the past two years we saw record outdoor participation and sales of outdoor products — from RVs, bikes and boats to hunting and angling gear and equipment and more,” Turner said. “More outdoor activities directly correlates with increased funding for land and water conservation, outdoor infrastructure and habitat improvement thanks to important programs like WSFR.”
Interior Department Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said the 85-year history of WSFR has been foundational to wildlife and habitat conservation throughout the U.S.
“Hunters, anglers, and sportsmen and women have some of the deepest connections to nature,” Beaudreau said. “With the historic investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and opportunities through the Great American Outdoors Act, these grants will make significant progress in our work to protect our cherished wild treasures.”
The WSFR Program, also known as Pittman-Robertson Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux, apportions excise taxes on hunting, shooting and fishing equipment, and boat fuel to all 50 states and U.S. territories. The core value of all WSFR Programs is fostering cooperative partnerships between federal and state agencies, working alongside hunters, anglers, and other outdoor interests, to enhance recreational opportunities while advancing sustainable resource goals.
Congress authorizes the WSFR disbursements through the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act. To date, the Service has distributed more than $25.5 billion in apportionments for state conservation and recreation projects. The recipient state wildlife agencies have matched these funds with approximately $8.5 billion throughout the years, primarily through hunting and fishing license revenues.
