The Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council currently has four standing committees, and 2 ad hoc sub-committees. The council also appoints representatives to other related boards including the National Fish Habitat and Partnership Board and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Board.

Standing Committees

  • Executive - This committee is composed of the Council chairperson, vice chairperson, committee chairs and the immediate past chairperson (if still serving as a Council member). The committee assists in recommending agenda topics to the Designated Federal Officer and helping to prioritize Council activities.
  • Boating Issues - This standing committee monitors federal government actions that affect aquatic systems and recreational fisheries and evaluate their effect on boaters and anglers recreational activities. The committee has provided evaluations of all Service’s boating related grant programs funded from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
  • Fishing Issues - This standing committee monitors federal activities that affect aquatic systems and the recreational fisheries they support as well as the overall condition of recreational fishery resources. Committee’s actions include evaluating the Service’s fisheries program and developing strategic vision recommendations based on the evaluation.
  • Outreach and Communications - This standing committee recommends policies or programs that foster conservation ethics in recreational fishing and boating and stimulate angler and boater participation in the conservation and restoration of aquatic resources through outreach and education. This committee led the Council’s evaluation of the marketing and outreach initiatives of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) who currently receives funding from the Service’s National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP).

Ad Hoc Committee

  • National Outreach and Communications Plan Review  - This Committee leads the Council's evaluation of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its initiatives to increase boating and fishing participation.  The FWS Sportfish Restoration program is a partnership that involves the recreational fishing industry, the FWS and state fish and wildlife agencies; and it provides RBFF with funding.  This partnership also funds conservation projects, and declining participation threatens this funding.