Sullivan, Cantwell, Colleagues Seek to Reauthorize Sport Fish, Boating Trust Fund

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, have introduced the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2026 to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF), set to expire on September 30, 2026, through 2031. The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Established in 1950, the Trust Fund is a user-pay, public-benefit program that supports conservation programs, fisheries management and restoration, and recreational boating access and safety resources. The Trust Fund is funded primarily through excise taxes on motorboat fuel, small engines, and sportfishing equipment paid by recreational boaters, anglers, and manufacturers.

"Alaska is home to the most incredible sport fishing opportunities anywhere on the planet," said Sen. Sullivan. "Alaska residents and thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world flock to our rivers, lakes, and endless miles of coastline each year for the experience of a lifetime. The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund helps ensure we continue to protect and sustain the world-class aquatic ecosystems that provide these experiences by supporting essential conservation, research, and management initiatives. Over the past five years alone, Alaska has received nearly $124 million-an average of more than $20 million annually-from the fund. I'm glad to introduce bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to reauthorize this important Trust Fund to provide access for anglers and help keep Alaska's waters healthy for generations far into the future."

"Washington's outdoor economy depends on healthy fisheries and safe waterways," said Sen. Cantwell. "This bipartisan bill keeps more than $600 million flowing each year to support fish restoration, hatcheries, and boating safety. Recreational fishing supports thousands of jobs across our state-this reauthorization protects those jobs and keeps our communities strong."

Specifically, the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2026 would:

1. Reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for another 5 years.
2. Update apportionment for Interstate Fisheries Commissions from a flat amount to a percentage to increase funding.

"The Kenai River Sportfishing Association strongly supports Senator Sullivan's legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and update funding for Interstate Fisheries Commissions," said Shannon Martin, executive director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. "These funds are critical for fisheries conservation, habitat restoration, boating access, and angler programs-supporting local economies and ensuring future generations can experience world-class sportfishing opportunities like those in Alaska."

"On behalf of the American Sportfishing Association, we thank Senators Cantwell and Sullivan for introducing the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Reauthorization Act," said Glenn Hughes, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. "For 76 years, the sportfishing industry has proudly contributed to this program through the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, creating a powerful, self-sustaining model for conservation. These funds are critical to supporting state-led fisheries management, expanding public access, and maintaining healthy fish populations. Reauthorizing this program ensures that anglers and the broader outdoor recreation community can continue to rely on strong fisheries and accessible waters for generations to come."

"NMMA applauds Senators Sullivan and Cantwell for their bipartisan leadership in introducing legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund," said Clay Crabtree, interim vice president of public policy and government relations at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). "For more than 75 years, this user-pay, public-benefit program has been the backbone of conservation and boating infrastructure in all 50 states, supporting access to our nation's waterways and strengthening local economies. As lawmakers look to support America's outdoor recreation future, reauthorizing and modernizing this program is essential to ensuring that boaters and anglers continue to have safe, reliable access to public waters while supporting the small businesses and manufacturers that power the uniquely American recreational boating industry."

"As the largest payers into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund via the motor fuel tax, America's boat owners appreciate the support of Congress in continuing this highly successful program," said David Kennedy, BoatUS. "Boaters understand the value of keeping our waters accessible, safe, clean, and most importantly, fun. This is why BoatUS supports this legislation and applauds its sponsors."

"We applaud the Senate's introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, a critical step in ensuring resource continuity for state-led fisheries management," said Paul Johansen, chief of the wildlife resources section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. "Funded by excise taxes on sportfishing equipment and motorboat and small engine fuel use, the Fund apportionments to state fish and wildlife agencies support the state fisheries data collection, stocking, and habitat projects needed to conserve fish populations and provide quality recreational fishing opportunities for the public."

"Every time a recreational boater fills up before a day on the water, they are supporting the important work done by the SFRBTF, ultimately playing a role in the conservation and restoration of crucial habitat and improving access for recreational boaters," said Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. "Clean waters, healthy fisheries, and access to both are critical to ensuring the recreational fishing and boating industry remains strong, and the work done by the SFRBTF continues to ensure that those priorities remain in check, further underscoring the importance of reauthorization. We cannot thank Senators Sullivan and Cantwell enough for their leadership in spearheading the reauthorization of this pivotal program."

"The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, together with fishing license revenues, serves as the cornerstone of state-led fisheries conservation across the United States," said Taylor Schmitz, senior vice president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "This uniquely American model has proven extraordinarily effective in sustaining aquatic resources and providing critical access. We commend Senators Sullivan and Cantwell, along with the bill's original cosponsors, for their leadership in advancing the reauthorization and long-term protection of this vital program for future generations."

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