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 708million.TheeighteffortsfundedfromtheSportFishRestorationandBoatingTrustFundare(1)threecoastalwetlandsconservationandrestorationprograms;(2)recreationalboatingsafety;(3)constructionofsewagepump−outanddumpstationsforrecreationalvesselsewagedisposal;(4)constructionofdockingfacilitiesforlargetransientrecreationalvessels;(5)nationalaquaticresourceoutreachandcommunications;(6)multi−stateconservationgrants;(7)interstatefisherycommissionsandtheSportFishingandBoatingPartnershipCouncil;and(8)stategrantsforsportfishrestorationprojects.ProposalsunderdiscussionbyCongressforreauthorizingfederalsurfacetransportationprograms,requiredbytheendofFY2009,includeanincrease(possiblymorethandoubling)ofthe18.4cents−per−gallonfederalfueltaxtobetterfundhighwayinfrastructureprogramsthroughtheHighwayTrustFund.The111thCongressmaydecidewhethertheSportFishRestorationandBoatingTrustFundreceivessubstantialbenefits(possiblyexceedinganadditional350 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
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 708million.TheeighteffortsfundedfromtheSportFishRestorationandBoatingTrustFundare(1)threecoastalwetlandsconservationandrestorationprograms;(2)recreationalboatingsafety;(3)constructionofsewagepump−outanddumpstationsforrecreationalvesselsewagedisposal;(4)constructionofdockingfacilitiesforlargetransientrecreationalvessels;(5)nationalaquaticresourceoutreachandcommunications;(6)multi−stateconservationgrants;(7)interstatefisherycommissionsandtheSportFishingandBoatingPartnershipCouncil;and(8)stategrantsforsportfishrestorationprojects.ProposalsunderdiscussionbyCongressforreauthorizingfederalsurfacetransportationprograms,requiredbytheendofFY2009,includeanincrease(possiblymorethandoubling)ofthe18.4cents−per−gallonfederalfueltaxtobetterfundhighwayinfrastructureprogramsthroughtheHighwayTrustFund.The111thCongressmaydecidewhethertheSportFishRestorationandBoatingTrustFundreceivessubstantialbenefits(possiblyexceedinganadditional350 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
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Publication date
05/09/2003
Field of study
This report provides information about the Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 108th Congress. fish and marine are important resources in the open ocean and nearshore coastal areas
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Publication date
12/02/2008
Field of study
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS Convention) was agreed to in 1982, but the United States never became a signatory nation. In the 111th Congress, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on January 13, 2009, acknowledged that U.S. accession to the LOS Convention would be an Obama Administration priority. This report describes provisions of the LOS Convention relating to living marine resources and discusses how these provisions comport with current U.S. marine policy
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Publication date
12/03/2004
Field of study
This report discusses policy and legislation regarding fish and marine mammals. These animals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas. Commercial and sport fishing are jointly managed by the federal government and individual states. Many laws and regulations guide the management of these resources by federal agencies