Recreational Fishing Questions & Answers
Q: Are their any plans by the current administration to restrict recreational fishing?
A: Absolutely not. To the contrary, we strongly support recreational fishing, and are working with our state and federal partners to expand recreational fishing opportunities across the nation. We recognize the important benefits that fishing provides to millions of Americans – as a recreational pastime, a way to connect with nature and our cultural heritage, and as a significant driver of our economy. In addition, recreational fishing generates crucial funding for conservation across the nation.
As Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has said, “Americans have few higher callings than to conserve our treasured landscapes and bountiful wildlife and connect our children and grandchildren to the great outdoors. For more than half a century, boaters, hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters, and the hunting and fishing industries have supported some of our nation’s most successful programs to conserve fish and wildlife and its habitat and make it possible for Americans to enjoy them.” For all of these reasons, we continue to support and promote recreational fishing on our public lands and across America.
Q. Does the Department of the Interior actively solicit the opinions and advice of recreational anglers in establishing its policies?
A. Yes. Under President Clinton’s leadership, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt established the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council in 1993 to provide advice on significant recreational fishing, boating and aquatic resource conservation issues. The council has played a vital role in representing the interests of anglers and had a leading role in the development of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, a groundbreaking, partnership-driven strategy to restore fisheries and aquatic habitat across the nation.
Secretary Salazar values the council’s expertise and advice and in early March appointed 19 members to the panel. More information on the council can be found at http://www.fws.gov/sfbpc/
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also works in partnership with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, a tax-exempt corporation established in 1998 to carry out the National Outreach and Communications 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.
The Foundation has a 25-member board of directors comprised of leaders from state and federal natural resource agencies; recreational boating, fishing and tourism industries; and national conservation organizations. Critical issues influencing boating, fishing, and stewardship participation are being addressed by four task forces organized by the Foundation.
Q. What are some ways the Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service support America’s fishing heritage?
A. Secretary Salazar strongly promotes recreational fishing and especially programs to encourage children to learn to fish. In fact, during his first week in office, Secretary Salazar participated in a National Fishing Day event at a pond on the National Mall, teaching students from local elementary schools to catch bluegill and bass. Helping children learn the joys of fishing and the great outdoors is one of the centerpieces of his “Youth in the Great Outdoors” initiative to get young people out into nature.
The Department offers Americans countless opportunities to fish on its lands. For example, more than 270 national wildlife refuges have fishing programs. Visitors can cast a line for a wide variety of fish, ranging from inconnu and grayling in remote Alaska to snook hovering by mangroves in Florida's Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Meanwhile, the Department’s National Fish Hatchery System distributes approximate 150 million fish and approximately 150 million eggs in support of recreational fishing.
Q: How else does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service support recreational fishing?
Although recreational fishing is primarily overseen by state fish and wildlife agencies, the Fish and Wildlife Service has maintained this commitment to recreational fisheries through science-based fisheries resource management implemented by the Fisheries Program (http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/) in partnership with other Federal agencies, and state, tribal and local governments.
The Service’s responsibilities and authorities for recreational fishing are established in a variety of specific programs to support the activities of more than 40 million Americans who fish for recreation in our nation’s waters. In implementing these programs, the Service has focused on providing for healthy fish populations for restoration and recovery of recreational fishery resources, restoring habitat and rebuilding native fish populations. For example:
- The National Fisheries Program Strategic Plan assumes that Americans place a high value on fish and their habitats and consider them important national assets, that Americans value recreational benefits derived from fish and their habitats, and use these resources in a manner that conserves natural resources.
- The Fisheries Program Vision, developed in consultation with its partners, focuses on Healthy Fish in Healthy Habitats, a Healthy Economy and Healthy People of which recreational fisheries is a key component.
- Of the Fisheries Program’s 152 field stations, more than 50 percent conduct angler education programs through fishing derbies, on-site educational programs, such Trout-in-the Class Room, as well as celebrations during Earth Day and National Fishing and Boating Week.
- The Fisheries Program completed approximately 150 projects in direct support of recreational fishing, such as National Fishing and Boating Week activities at both the a national and regional levels, as well as cooperative projects with State and Tribal partners.
- In response to the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership evaluation of the Fisheries Program, the Program established Eddies: Reflections on Fisheries Conservation, the official magazine of the Fisheries Program, dedicated to communicating the accomplishments of the Program and its partners and reconnecting with its recreational fisheries base.
Q Why is recreational fishing important?
A: Recreational fishing is an integral component of our national heritage and continues to play an important role in the social, cultural and economic well-being of our nation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its Fisheries Program work with partners to restore and maintain fish and other aquatic resources at self-sustaining levels and support federal mitigation programs for the benefit of the American public. The Fisheries Program also works to restore habitat, provide fish and technical support for fisheries management.
Q: How long has the federal government supported recreational fishing?
A: The Service’s role in providing recreational fishing opportunities for the American public began with the founding of the U.S. Fish Commission in 1871. Today, the Service’s Fisheries Program is a critical partner with states, tribes, other governments, other Service programs, private organizations, public institutions, and interested citizens to conserve these important resources. We work with one goal in mind – that all waters of the United States will be capable of sustaining healthy fish populations, and all Americans will have access to and opportunity for a diverse array of quality recreational fishing experiences.
Q: What is the economic impact of sport fishing?
A: Recreational fishing is much more than just a getaway for millions of Americans. Fishing also helps to provide a living for countless people from all walks of life and in all corners of the country. America’s nearly 40 million anglers spend over $45 billion per year on fishing equipment, transportation, lodging and other expenses associated with their sport. With a total annual economic impact of $125 billion, fishing supports over one million jobs and generates $34 billion in wages and $16 billion in tax revenues each year. The average amount anglers spend yearly on hooks, rods, lures and other fishing tackle increased 16 percent from 2001 to 2006.
Q: Can recreational fishing help kids and students connect with the outdoors?
A: The Department of the Interior and its bureaus strongly support efforts to help young people get outdoors and enjoy America’s rich and diverse natural resources. Providing recreational fishing in community and urban environments not only provides wholesome recreational opportunities, but also provides exposure and involvement with wildlife and their habitats that leads to greater awareness and appreciation for the need to conserve our natural resources.
In addition, the Service offers opportunities for youth to participate in outdoor activities and learn about potential careers in natural resource management and conservation through thousands of recreational fishing partnership events held across the nation — in particular during National Fishing and Boating Week (NFBW). NFBW is a national annual celebration recognizing the importance of fishing and boating observed during the first full week in June.
Q: What role do partnerships play in support of recreational fishing?
A: Partnerships form the foundation of the Service’s Fisheries Program. The Fisheries Program reaches out to traditional recreational fisheries partners to restore the faith with, and conservation values among the 40 million anglers across the country. Loss of habitat and invasive species are the two most significant threats to the diversity of aquatic systems. In order to better conserve and manage fish and other aquatic resources in the face of increasing threats, the Service works with partners, for example, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council to:
- Protect the health of aquatic habitats;
- Restore fish and other aquatic resources; and
- Provide opportunities to enjoy the benefits of healthy aquatic resources.
Q: What is the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program?
A: The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program provides grant funds to the states, the District of Columbia and insular areas fish and wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. Projects include providing public use and access to wildlife resources, hunter education and development and management of shooting ranges. The program is authorized by the Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson PR) of 1937. http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs are highly effective federal conservation programs. In addition to providing a stable financial source, the funding is protected by legislative safeguards preventing its diversion away from state fish and wildlife agencies. For states working to ensure a future for fish and wildlife, conservation education for our children, and opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors, few programs offer this level of support and reliability.
Q: How much funding will be provided in 2010?
A: The Service will distribute in 2010 more than $862 million to all 50 states, U.S. commonwealths and territories, and the District of Columbia to support hunting, sport-fishing, and fish and wildlife conservation and education programs.
Q: What is the source of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funding?
A: The program is the nation’s oldest and most successful wildlife restoration program. Through the purchases of firearms, sporting equipment the program is a highly successful user pay, user benefit program. The funding is derived from excise taxes and import duties on sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, sport-fishing equipment, electric outboard motors, and fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and small engines.
Q: What are the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) awards?
A: The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) provides grant funds to the states, the District of Columbia and insular areas to construct, renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities with features for transient boaters in vessels 26 feet or more in length, and to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program. The grants help fund construction of docks, boat slips and other facilities to support recreational boating.
The grants, which will help fund construction of docks, boat slips and other facilities to support recreational boating, are made available through the Service’s BIG program. BIG funds are used to construct, renovate and maintain tie-up facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 10 days or less) that are 26 feet or more in length and cannot be transported by trailer. The funds are also used to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program.
Funding for the BIG program comes from the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels. Smaller non-competitive grants are also available to states that are willing to match the BIG funding.
Boating is one of our country’s favorite pastimes, and the BIG program greatly enhances recreational opportunities while conserving America’s aquatic natural resources. Spending by boaters provides significant revenues for business owners and employees in every state. This program, funded by boaters, is a prime example of the direct economic benefits boating can bring to local economies.