The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program administers grant programs that distribute millions of dollars annually to state agencies and Tribes to manage fish, wildlife, and habitats, evaluate and enhance species of greatest conservation need, and provide recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, shooting, and boating.
What We Do
Our Projects and Initiatives
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) works with states, insular areas, and the District of Columbia to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, their habitats, and the hunting, sport fishing and recreational boating opportunities they provide. We provide national leadership, oversight and/or administrative support for the following grant programs:
- Wildlife Restoration
- Sport Fish Restoration
- Clean Vessel Act
- Boating Infrastructure
- National Coastal Wetlands Conservation
- State Wildlife Grants
- Tribal Wildlife Grants
- Multistate Conservation
Through WSFR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also administers the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize and Advisory Council.
Our Laws and Regulations
We implement laws including the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 (popularly known as the Pittman–Robertson Act), and the Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 (commonly referred to as the Dingell-Johnson Act).
Latest Stories and Topics
Stories
Recreation
A popular fishing goal is hooking large fish, often called lunkers in the angling community. Anglers tell fish¬¬ tales about the big one that got away and some even practice holding a fish closer to the camera to make it look larger in photos. However, a growing number of anglers are embracing the...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding more than $5.9 million to federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native Tribes through its Tribal Wildlife Grants Program to benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Nearly a quarter of those funds will support Alaska projects...
Wildlife Management
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) has launched new data dashboards to give our partners and the public access to hunting and fishing license data and apportionment figures, with decades of information. These data sets provide an important source for historical license...
Our Partners
Since time immemorial, Tribes have relied on their plant and animal relatives to support their way of life by providing food, clothing, and items of cultural use. Today, many Tribes commit financial resources and engage in partnerships to restore landscapes and conserve the species and resources in...
Our Partners
Bringing Latino culture and community to the outdoors
Recreation
California’s Fishing in the City program has a simple goal: to connect people with the outdoors and spark a love for conservation. Teaching people to fish is simply the bait to get them outside.