Sport Fish Restoration Program

Sport Fish Restoration Program is sponsored by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This program provides federal grant funding to states, commonwealths, and territories for projects including land acquisition, boating access development, research, operation and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, and aquatic resource education.

These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access.

Sport Fish Restoration | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service The Sport Fish Restoration Program was created in 1950 to restore and better manage America's declining fish resources. Staff from Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources sample fish populations using throw nets.

The Sport Fish Restoration program provides funds to fish and wildlife agencies of the states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories for fishery projects, boating access, and aquatic education. It was created in 1950, with the passing of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (a. k.

a. , the Dingell-Johnson Act). Modeled after the successful Wildlife Restoration Act, the Sport Fish Restoration Act dedicated permanent funding for fishery conservation.

Since the Act was passed, it has generated over $12 billion for the conservation and restoration of sport fish species and their habitats. These funds also support connecting people with nature through outdoor recreational opportunities and aquatic resources education programs.

Revenue comes from manufacturers’ excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats, and the portion of the gasoline fuel tax attributable to small engines and motorboats. To view or download total unadjusted actual and total inflation adjusted Sport Fish Restoration Apportionments data since 1952 visit our Sport Fish Restoration QuickSight page.

Final Apportionments for Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration Funds This library contains certified final apportionments for the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Funds. These programs are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

FY 26 - SFR Final apportionment table Final Fiscal Year 2026 Certificate of Apportionments for Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Fund.