March 22, 2013
Contact: Pam Bierce, 916-414-6542
Scott Flaherty, 916-978-6156
Fish and Wildlife Service Announces $49.7 Million in User-Generated Funding
to California and Nevada Wildlife Agencies
Hunters, Anglers, and Other Recreational Users Provide Record Support for Critical Conservation Projects
SACRAMENTO - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that $49.7 million in excise tax revenues generated in 2012 by sportsmen and sportswomen will be distributed to the fish and wildlife agencies of California and Nevada to fund fish and wildlife conservation and recreation projects.
These funds are made available to all 50 states and territories through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration programs, and distributed by the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. Revenues come from excise taxes generated by the sale of sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment and tackle, and electric outboard motors. Recreational boaters also contribute to the program through fuel taxes on motorboats and small engines.
In California, the Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2013 totals $17.3 million. Nevada will receive nearly $9.2 million. A portion of these funds will go toward hunter education, and firearm and archery range programs.
In addition, the 2013 Sport Fish Restoration apportionment totals about $17.9 million in California and $5.2 million in Nevada. These funds will be used to provide aquatic resource education opportunities, conduct fisheries research, acquire and improve sport fish habitat, as well as maintain public fishing access.
“The sporting community has provided the financial and spiritual foundation for wildlife conservation in America for more than 75 years,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “Through these programs, hunters, anglers, recreational boaters and target shooters continue to fund vital fish and wildlife management and conservation, recreational boating access, and hunter and aquatic education programs.”
The Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program reimburses up to 75 percent of the cost of each eligible project while state fish and wildlife agencies contribute a minimum of 25 percent, generally using hunting and fishing license revenues as the required non-Federal match.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs have generated a total of more than $15.3 billion to conserve fish and wildlife resources since their inception (1937 for the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program; 1950 for the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Program.) The recipient fish and wildlife agencies have matched these program funds with more than $5.1 billion. This funding is critical to sustaining healthy fish and wildlife populations and providing opportunities for all to connect with nature.
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program apportionment for 2013 totals $522.5 million. The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Program apportionment for 2013 totals $359.9 million. As a result of the statutorily required sequester, these apportionments have been reduced by 5.1 percent, or approximately $39.2 million. Additional Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration grant funding to the states has also been reduced, for a total sequestration-related reduction of approximately $44 million.
Please visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program website at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/ for more information on the goals and accomplishments of these programs and for individual state, commonwealth, and territorial funding allocations. For information on funding for each state, visit http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2013/pdf/Master_apport_table_Final_2013.pdf.
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