The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, known as the Dingell-Johnson Act, was passed
by Congress in 1950. We’re celebrating its 75 th anniversary this year, and the more than $12
billion the Act has generated for the conservation and restoration of sport fish species and their
habitats.
Under the Dingell-Johnson Act, an excise tax is collected on sport fishing equipment including
rods, reels, tackle, lures, lines, motorboat fuel and import duties on fishing equipment. The
money is deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are then distributed to state fish and
wildlife agencies through a formula based on each state’s land and water area and the number of
licensed anglers.
“Nobody gets excited about paying taxes, but this one doesn’t bother me a bit,” said Nathan
“Shags” McLeod, a radio personality from Columbia, Missouri. “When I think about all the
ways my tax dollars are spent, I guess it makes me happy to know at least a few of them are
going to support fishing.”
The program requires states to match federal funds with revenue from fishing licenses and other
local sources. This structure ensures anglers and boaters, the people who most directly benefit
from the resource, are also the primary investors in its management. Oversight provisions in the
act strictly prohibit states from diverting the money to other purposes.
The impact of the funding is visible across the country. More than 9,000 public boating and
fishing access sites have been built or improved with Dingell-Johnson money. Over 320 state
fish hatcheries receive support, producing more than a billion fish annually for stocking in public
waters. States use the funds to restore aquatic habitats, conduct biological research, and support
law enforcement activities related to fisheries. Millions of Americans have participated in
aquatic education programs financed through the act, learning the basics of fishing, boating
safety, and aquatic ecology.
“We couldn’t do our job without Sport Fish Restoration dollars,” said Michael Bednarski, Chief
of Fisheries for Virginia DWR. “The amount we get is substantial—about $3.5 million a year
coming from the excise taxes on fishing tackle and boat fuel. I really believe in it.”
Bednarski added one of the greatest, most lasting impacts of Sport Fish Restoration money in
Virginia are the 37 public waters such as Lake Robertson that exist around the state. Those
fishing waters were purchased via Sport Fish Restoration money.
The 1984 Wallop-Breaux Amendment was a major turning point for the program. By adding
excise taxes on motorboat fuel and expanding the base of taxed equipment, the amendment
significantly increased revenue. It also broadened the list of eligible projects, allowing states to
invest in boating infrastructure and safety initiatives in addition to fisheries restoration.
For anglers, the results have been incredible. Improved fish populations, healthier waters, and
more public access to lakes and rivers have resulted. In many rural areas, projects funded by
Dingell-Johnson dollars have created economic opportunities by drawing visitors and tourism
dollars. Providing both an economic return and intrinsic value.
As the 75th anniversary of Dingell-Johnson is celebrated in 2025, federal and state agencies, as
well as conservation organizations, have issued releases highlighting its legacy. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service released figures showing the scope of the program: billions of dollars
invested, thousands of facilities built, and millions of people educated. Leaders of the angling
and boating community described the law as a cornerstone of modern conservation policy.
Representative Debbie Dingell, whose late father-in-law John Dingell Sr. co-authored the
original legislation, noted the act has provided “critical resources for conservation, restoration,
boating safety and education, and fishing access for generations of Americans.” Congressional
leaders introduced a bipartisan bill in 2025 to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating
Trust Fund through 2030, ensuring its continuation into the future.
In Alabama alone, officials reported that Dingell-Johnson funds have supported three state fish
hatcheries, over 100 public boat ramps, and 23 public fishing lakes. Similar reports have been
filed by agencies across the country, pointing to the program’s reach into both large and small
communities.
A statement released by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation says, “These excise taxes,
combined with fishing and hunting license revenues, constitute the American System of
Conservation Funding, a model unlike anything else in the world. These funds are derived from
those who hunt, fish, and boat and the industries they support for one purpose – to make sure we
have access to healthy fish and wildlife resources.”
The success of the Dingell-Johnson Act reflects a simple principle: when those who use natural
resources contribute financially to their management, the results benefit everyone. Fish
populations are sustained, habitats are restored, access is expanded, and the tradition of fishing is
passed on to future generations.
“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Public access is the only reason I was able to
become a fisherman. I’m proud to live in a country where we work together for conservation
through legislation like the Dingell-Johnson Act, to make the world a little better for all of us,”
McLeod said.
Seventy-five years after its passage, the act remains one of the most important conservation
achievements in American history. By tying together federal leadership, state responsibility, and
user investment, the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act created a model of sustainable
funding that continues to keep America’s waters healthy and accessible.
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler
driftwoodoutdoors@gmail.com
Pic: Nathan “Shags” McLeod with a brown trout caught from a magical river in the Missouri
Ozarks.
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