Sportfish Restoration Act set for renewal
US fisheries look set for another boost next year as government plans have been revealed to reauthorise what is known as the Sportfish Restoration Act, which levies an excise tax on the sale of fishing tackle.
US representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) introduced the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 in the US House of Representatives earlier this year to reauthorise the Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act through to 2031.
Originally passed in 1950 but set to expire late next year, the act is widely supported by the sportfishing industry and recreational fishing community and created the Sport Fish Restoration Fund Act, which collects an excise tax of up to 10 per cent on most tackle sales.
This excise tax is distributed to states, tribes and territories to fund habitat restoration, fisheries research and access improvements.
Glenn Hughes, president and CEO of the US industry body American Sportfishing Association, said: “The Sport Fish Restoration Program is a model of collaborative conservation that is envied the world over.
“The sportfishing equipment manufacturers we represent are proud to pay the federal excise tax on fishing equipment because they know it is being put to good use in support of aquatic resource conservation and fishing participation projects that benefit the future of the sport.
“As we celebrate the program’s 75th anniversary, we thank Reps. Dingell and Wittman for leading the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 so this program can continue well into the future.
The excise tax on sportfishing equipment is considered one of the most successful “user pay, public benefit” programs in the world and a cornerstone of the American conservation model.
Since its inception, the Sport Fish Restoration Fund has generated more than $12 billion, created and improved more than 9,000 public boating and fishing access sites, supported 320 fish hatcheries that stock around one billion fish annually and funded aquatic education programs that have introduced over 850,000 people to fishing.
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