The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating
Trust Fund
Eugene H. Buck
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
March 17, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS22060
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
Summary
An Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, with two accounts—a Sport Fish Restoration Account and a
Boat Safety Account—was created in 1984 and subsequently amended to support a variety of
programs administered by three federal agencies, including wetlands management, recreational
vessel docking and sewage disposal infrastructure, and aquatic resource education. In 2005, the
Boat Safety Account was terminated and remaining programs were consolidated into a renamed
Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. This report details sources of funding for this
trust fund and summarizes the various programs and activities receiving funding.
The five sources of income to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are (1) the
portion of federal fuel taxes attributable to motorboat fuel from the Highway Trust Fund; (2)
annual tax receipts attributable to small engine fuel used for outdoor power equipment from the
Highway Trust Fund; (3) annual receipts from a manufacturers’ excise tax on sport fishing
equipment; (4) annual receipts from import duties on fishing tackle and on yachts and pleasure
craft; and (5) interest on funds invested prior to disbursal. Total FY2008 income from these five
sources was approximately $708 million.
The eight efforts funded from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are (1) three
coastal wetlands conservation and restoration programs; (2) recreational boating safety; (3)
construction of sewage pump-out and dump stations for recreational vessel sewage disposal; (4)
construction of docking facilities for large transient recreational vessels; (5) national aquatic
resource outreach and communications; (6) multi-state conservation grants; (7) interstate fishery
commissions and the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; and (8) state grants for sport
fish restoration projects.
Proposals under discussion by Congress for reauthorizing federal surface transportation
programs, required by the end of FY2009, include an increase (possibly more than doubling) of
the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal fuel tax to better fund highway infrastructure programs through
the Highway Trust Fund. The 111th Congress may decide whether the Sport Fish Restoration and
Boating Trust Fund receives substantial benefits (possibly exceeding an additional $350 million
annually) from an increase in the federal fuel tax. A corollary set of questions focuses on whether,
and if so how, the various programs supported by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust
Fund might be modified to expend increased receipts, should a federal fuel tax increase be
enacted.
Congressional Research Service
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................ 1
Trust Fund Income ...................................................................................................................... 1
Trust Fund Expenditures ............................................................................................................. 2
Legislative Issues ........................................................................................................................ 5
Figures
Figure 1. Trust Fund Income ....................................................................................................... 2
Figure 2. Trust Fund Expenditures............................................................................................... 3
Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 6
Congressional Research Service
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
Background
The Aquatic Resources Trust Fund (26 U.S.C. §9504) was established in 1984 by P.L. 98-369
(Div. A, Title X), commonly referred to as the Wallop-Breaux Amendment to the Federal Aid in
Sport Fish Restoration program.1 This trust fund was composed of two accounts—the Sport Fish
Restoration Account and the Boat Safety Account. Subsequent to its creation, this trust fund has
been amended to provide support to a variety of additional programs. In 2005, Title X of P.L.
109-59 changed the name of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund to the Sport Fish Restoration and
Boating Trust Fund, terminated the Boat Safety Account, reauthorized program funding through
FY2009, and changed how funds are allocated among most of the supported programs. This
report details the sources of funding for the trust fund, and summarizes how various programs and
activities receive funding.
Trust Fund Income
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund receives income from five sources (Figure 1).
(1) As a permanent appropriation, the account receives, from the Highway Trust Fund, any
remaining motorboat fuel taxes2 in excess of $1 million annually allocated to the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (26 U.S.C. §9503(c)(4)(B)). In recent years, annual income from this source
has exceeded $350 million; FY2008 income was about $379 million.
(2) The account receives, from the Highway Trust Fund, the annual tax receipts attributable to
small engine fuel used for outdoor power equipment (26 U.S.C. §9503(c)(5)). This transfer of
funds is authorized through September 30, 2011 (26 U.S.C. §9503(c)(5)(A)). In recent years,
annual income from this source has been around $100 million; in FY2008, income from this
source was about $103 million.
(3) The account receives the annual receipts from a manufacturers’ excise tax on sport fishing
equipment (26 U.S.C. §4161(a)). This is a permanent annual appropriation to the Sport Fish
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (26 U.S.C. §9504(b)(1)(A)). In recent years, annual income
from this source has been approximately $100 million; in FY2008, income from this source was
slightly more than $113 million.
(4) The account receives the annual receipts from import duties on fishing tackle under heading
9507 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. §1202) and on yachts
and pleasure craft under chapter 89 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. This
is a permanent annual appropriation to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (26
U.S.C. §9504(b)(1)(B)). In recent years, annual income from this source has been around $40
million; in FY2008, income from this source was slightly less than $42 million.
1 The original program was created by the 1950 Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Act of
August 25, 1950; 64 Stat. 474).
2 The amount of fuels tax deposited into the account from the Highway Trust Fund is prescribed in 26 U.S.C.
9503(c)(4)(D) and is based on methodology outlined in the Treasury Department’s Report to Congress of June 1986,
entitled Gasoline Excise Tax Renenues Attributable to Fuel Used in Recreational Motorboats, to annually estimate the
number of registered motorboats and fuel consumption for various sizes.
Congressional Research Service
1
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
Figure 1. Trust Fund Income
(FY2008 receipts, $ in millions)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data.
(5) This account receives interest on funds invested prior to disbursal (26 U.S.C. §9602(b)). In
recent years, annual income from this source has been approximately $70 million; in FY2008,
income from this source was slightly more than $71 million. Income from this source can
fluctuate widely, depending upon interest rates.
Trust Fund Expenditures
Income received in any fiscal year is allocated to programs in the following fiscal year. Thus, the
approximately $708 million in FY2008 receipts to this trust fund will be available for distribution
in FY2009. Eight separate programs are funded (Figure 2), as follows.
(1) The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (Title III of P.L. 101-646)
amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. §777c(a)) to authorize an
allocation of 18% of the Sport Fish Restoration Account for coastal wetlands programs. In 2005,
this percentage allocation was increased to 18.5% by Title X of P.L. 109-59; the current
authorization for this allocation extends through FY2009. Of this total amount provided from the
Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, 15% is provided for the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grants Program3 (nearly $20 million annually; in FY2008, about $18.9
million was distributed through this program); 70% is provided for the Corps of Engineers
Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Restoration Program4 (almost $90 million annually; in FY2008, a
3 Under this program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides matching grants to states for the acquisition,
restoration, management or enhancement of coastal wetlands. For more information, see http://www.fws.gov/coastal/
CoastalGrants/ and program number 15.614 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
4 An interagency task force (consisting of the Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the State of Louisiana) uses these
funds to plan, set priorities, and carry out projects for the creation, protection, and restoration of coastal wetlands in the
State of Louisiana.
Congressional Research Service
2
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
total of about $88.3 million was transferred to the Corps for this program); and 15% is provided
for the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund5 (nearly $20 million annually; in FY2008, a
total of about $18.9 million was distributed from this fund). Appropriations are authorized for
these programs through FY2019 (§114(b), Division C, Title I of P.L. 108-447).
Figure 2. Trust Fund Expenditures
(FY2008, $ in millions)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data.
(2) A boating safety program, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety, is
funded by 18.5% of annual receipts from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund; the
current authorization for this allocation extends through FY2009. In FY2008, a total of about
$126.1 million was available to this program. Using these funds, the Coast Guard provides grants
to states and nonprofit organizations for the development and implementation of a coordinated
national recreational boating safety program.6 In FY2008, about $122 million was distributed to
individual states through the State Recreational Boating Safety Program.
(3) The Clean Vessel Act of 1992 (Title V, Subtitle F of P.L. 102-587) authorizes a competitive
grant program for states to construct pump-out and dump stations to dispose of vessel sewage
from recreational boaters.7 This program annually receives 2% of the annual receipts to the Sport
Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund; the current authorization for this allocation extends
5 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides grants to private or public organizations or individuals who have
developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Funds are used to
acquire real property interest in lands or waters, including water rights, for the long-term conservation of migratory
birds and other fish and wildlife; and to restore, manage, or enhance wetland ecosystems and other habitat for
migratory birds and other fish and wildlife species. For more information, see program number 15.623 in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance.
6 For more information, see http://www.uscgboating.org and program number 97.012 in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
7 For more information, see http://www.fws.gov/sfbpc/CVA%20Rpt_web%20only.pdf and program number 15.616 in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
Congressional Research Service
3
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
through FY2009. Annual state grants total more than $10 million under this program; in FY2008,
an estimated total of about $13.6 million was distributed to states through this program.8
(4) Section 7404(d) of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21; P.L. 105-178) authorizes a
competitive grant program that provides matching funds to states to install or upgrade docking
facilities for transient recreational boats 26 feet or more in length.9 This program, known as the
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program,10 annually receives 2% of the annual receipts to the Sport
Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund; the current authorization for this allocation extends
through FY2009. Annual state grants have totaled more than $10 million; in FY2008, an
estimated total of $13.6 million was distributed to states through the program.11
(5) A National Outreach and Communications Program annually receives 2% of the annual
receipts to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund; the current authorization for this
allocation extends through FY2009. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation,12 a tax-
exempt corporation, was established in 1998 to carry out this program to increase participation in
recreational boating and fishing and to encourage greater public involvement in aquatic
stewardship as mandated in the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Title VII, Subtitle D
of P.L. 105-178). This program provides grants to improve communication with anglers, boaters,
and the general public and to reduce barriers to participating in these activities.13 Authorization of
appropriations for this program were provided through FY2009 (16 U.S.C. §777c(a)). Annually,
more than $10 million has been available for this program; in FY2008, an estimated $13.6 million
was available.
(6) The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Improvement Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-408)
authorized a Multi-State Conservation Grant Program.14 From the Sport Fish Restoration and
Boating Trust Fund, the Secretary of the Interior receives as much as $3 million annually for this
program (16 U.S.C. §777m(a)), with the maximum $3 million provided in FY2008.
(7) In addition, 16 U.S.C. §777m(e) provides $200,000 annually to four Interstate Fishery
Commissions as well as $400,000 annually to the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership
Council.15 No stipulations restrict the use of these funds. In FY2008, an estimated total of $1.2
million was provided under this authority.
(8) After the previous seven programs are funded, the Sport Fish Restoration Program (16 U.S.C.
§§777 et seq.), administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Federal Aid, receives
the balance of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund receipts to grant state agencies
8 For more information, see http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVANOFA2009.pdf.
9 50 C.F.R. Part 86; 66 Fed. Reg. 5282-5294, Jan. 18, 2001.
10 For more information, see program number 15.622 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
11 For more information, see http://www.fws.gov/sfbpc/boatingreport.pdf.
12 For more information, see http://www.rbff.org/.
13 For more information, see program number 15.653 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
14 This program provides funding for wildlife and sport fish restoration projects identified as priority projects by the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). Projects that are generally selected for funding are biological
research/training, species population status, outreach, data collection regarding hunter/angler participation,
hunter/aquatic education, economic value of fishing/hunting, and regional or multistate habitat needs assessments. For
more information, see http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/MultiState/MS.htm and program number
15.628 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
15 Authorized by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Improvement Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-408).
Congressional Research Service
4
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
funding, based on a formula. Sixty percent of each state’s share is based on its number of licensed
anglers (fishermen) and 40% on its land and water area. No state receives more than 5% or less
than 1% of each year’s total apportionment. Puerto Rico receives 1%, and the Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia each receive
one-third of 1%. Currently, around $400 million is allocated to states annually through this
program; in FY2008, a total of $397.8 million was available for distribution to states through the
program.16 State projects funded by this program can include land acquisition, development
(including boating access sites), research, operations and maintenance, sport fish population
management, and program coordination. Prohibited activities are law enforcement and public
relations.17 To qualify for the funds, states must certify the number of licensed anglers in their
state, agree not to utilize their sport fish license funds for purposes other than administration of
their fish and game department, and provide a 75% match for most projects.
Authorized administrative expenses for management of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating
Trust Fund by the Fish and Wildlife Service are identified in 16 U.S.C. §777h. In recent years,
annual administrative expenses have been between $9 million and $10 million; for FY2008,
estimated administration expenses totaled almost $9.5 million. A maximum annual limitation on
funding for administrative expenses is specified in 16 U.S.C. 777c(b).
Since FY1998 and prior to P.L. 109-59, no funds had been appropriated from the Boat Safety
Account for the state recreational boating safety grant program. In accordance with Section 10119
of P.L. 109-59, the Boat Safety Account was terminated and, through FY2010, certain program
expenditures from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund were and will be bolstered
by the spend-down of the accumulated assets in the Boating Safety Account. For FY2008, slightly
more than an additional $17.1 million was available from this spend-down.
Legislative Issues
Some of the proposals under discussion for reauthorizing federal surface transportation programs,
required by the end of FY2009, include an increase (possibly more than doubling) of the 18.4
cents per gallon federal fuel tax to better fund highway infrastructure programs through the
Highway Trust Fund.18 The 111th Congress may decide whether the Sport Fish Restoration and
Boating Trust Fund would receive substantial benefits (possibly exceeding an additional $350
million annually) from an increase in the federal fuel tax. A corollary set of questions focuses on
whether, and if so how, the various programs supported by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating
Trust Fund might be modified to expend increased receipts, should a federal fuel tax increase be
enacted.
16 Fore more information, see program number 15.605 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Joyce
Johnson, “The Sport Fish Restoration Program,” Eddies, v. 1, no. 4 (Winter 2008), p. 16-19, available at
http://www.fws.gov/eddies/pdfs/EddiesWinter2008.pdf.
17 Historical state allotments are available at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/
SFR_Funding.htm.
18 For more information, see CRS Report R40053, Surface Transportation Program Reauthorization Issues for the
111th Congress, coordinated by John W. Fischer.
Congressional Research Service
5
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
Also in the 111th Congress, Section 9(b)(2)(B) of S. 503 would make a portion of adjusted bonus,
rental, and royalty revenues from federal oil and gas leasing and operations in the western Arctic
coastal plain of Alaska available for federal sport fish restoration grants.
Author Contact Information
Eugene H. Buck
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
gbuck@crs.loc.gov, 7-7262
Congressional Research Service
6