Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program | F17AS00049

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00049

The Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program (SFR) is a longstanding federal grant program authorized under the Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950, also known as the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777-777m). Established on August 9, 1950, it was designed as a companion to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, creating a dedicated funding stream to support the management, conservation, and restoration of sport fishery resources across the United States. The program is administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is structured as a mandatory grant opportunity for state-level fish and wildlife agencies.

SFR is financed through a user-pay, user-benefit model rather than general tax revenue. Its funding comes from excise taxes collected on sport fishing equipment, electric motors, and sonar, along with import duties on fishing tackle, yachts, and pleasure craft. It also receives a portion of the federal gasoline tax that is attributable to motorboats and small engines. These revenues are deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is then appropriated to support eligible projects. In practice, this means that people who purchase boating and fishing-related products and fuel help generate the funding that states can use to improve and sustain aquatic resources and recreational opportunities.

The core purpose of the program is to provide funding to restore, conserve, manage, or enhance sport fish populations and to improve the public use and benefits associated with these resources. This includes efforts that directly support healthy fisheries and aquatic habitats, as well as initiatives that educate the public about aquatic resources. Another major emphasis is improving boating access to public waters, which can involve developing or maintaining facilities that enable safe and equitable access for boaters and anglers. Taken together, these goals reflect a broad approach that supports both ecological outcomes (healthier fish populations and aquatic systems) and public recreation outcomes (better access, education, and enjoyment).

Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically State Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which receive funds through an annual apportionment process. Rather than being awarded competitively in the typical sense, monies are distributed each year according to a legislatively established formula among eligible state participants. The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00049 and is associated with CFDA number 15.605. The agency listed is the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the activity categories include education and natural resources. The published award ceiling is $5,000,000, and the original closing date listed for this opportunity is 2018-08-31, reflecting the posting details rather than the ongoing statutory nature of the program.

For additional program background and reference materials, the posting points to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SFR webpage at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/SFR.htm.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.605.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for F17AS00049

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