The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that State fish and wildlife agencies will share more than $530 million in excise taxes paid by Americas recreational shooters, hunters, anglers and boaters to support fish and wildlife conservation and education programs. The State of Alaska will receive a total of $24,657,934. Of this, $14,734,564 will fund sport fish restoration and $9,923,370 will fund wildlife restoration and hunter education programs. The funds are apportioned by formula under two Federal Assistance programs.
"The Federal Assistance in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration programs are made possible by the commitment of America's hunters, sport-shooters, anglers and boaters to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat," said the Service's Alaska Regional Director Rowan Gould. "These funds make possible many of the essential programs conducted by our partners at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the benefit of all of those who enjoy hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation in Alaska.?
Nationally, the wildlife restoration apportionment for 2005 totals more than $235 million, with more than $46 million going for hunter education and shooting range programs. The nationwide apportionment for sport fish restoration for 2005 totals nearly $295 million.
Wildlife restoration funds are made available to states based on land area (land plus inland waters, such as lakes and large rivers) and the number of hunting license holders in each state. Distribution of hunter education funds is based on the relative population of each state. The Service distributes sport fish restoration funds to the states based on the land and water area (land plus inland water, plus the Great Lakes and marine coastal areas) and the number of fishing license holders in each state.
ederal Assistance funds pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of each project while the states contribute at least 25 percent.
Wildlife Restoration is guided by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. States use Wildlife Restoration Program funds to manage wildlife populations, habitat, research, surveys and inventories and to administer hunter education programs.
Sport Fish Restoration is guided by the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on sport fishing equipment and tackle, trolling motors, motorboat and small engine fuels, and pleasure boats. States use Sport Fish Restoration Program funds to stock fish; acquire and improve sport fish habitat; provide aquatic resource education opportunities; conduct fisheries research; and build boat ramps, fishing piers and other facilities necessary to provide recreational boating access.
Please visit the Service's Division of Federal Assistance web site at http://federalaid.fws.gov for state-by-state funding allocations.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
visit our homepage at http://www.fws.gov
