11 hours ago
PFBC Exec Tim Schaeffer explains the catch and release of federal funding
ERIE – Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, has proven to be a hands-on leader who relates well, isn't afraid to dig in on difficult subjects, and always strives to be a clear and open communicator.
That trend continued recently as Schaeffer traveled to Erie to brief members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association on agency updates, including a breakdown of how federal funds are obtained and redistributed.
'Federal revenue – which represents roughly one-fourth of PFBC's total funding – comes from a national excise tax on fishing and boating gear,' Schaeffer explained. 'This money is allocated via a formula that is based on geographic location and fishing license sales.'
The Sport Fish Restoration Act, also known as the Dingell-Johnson Act, was enacted in 1950 to provide federal funding to state fish and wildlife agencies for restoration, conservation, management and enhancement of sport fishing opportunities. In 1984, that program was expanded by the Wallop-Breaux Amendment to include excise taxes on a wider variety of fishing equipment, including motorboat fuel, imported boat duties and fishing tackle.
This amendment provided additional funding for boating access development and aquatic resource education programs, essentially creating a system through which the consumer directly benefits from the dollars they spend. Anglers and boaters purchase equipment to enjoy their favorite pastimes, and a portion of their investment comes right back to improve fishing access while ensuring abundant, sustainable fish populations in well- managed fisheries.
According to PFBC reports, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which manages the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration budget, apportioned $381,827,198 in grants to state sport fish programs during the 2024 federal fiscal year. The program's North Atlantic- Appalachian Region received $62,573,512 for distribution among 14 states, with Pennsylvania receiving $9,320,492 – the largest apportionment to any state in the region. Of this total, $7,922,419 was allocated for freshwater fish and $1,398,074 was earmarked for boating access.
'This funding represents a significant portion of the PFBC's annual budget, and we've been able to steward that apportionment through a variety of programs that share these federal funds,' Schaeffer said.
Fisheries Management receives the largest slice of the pie for studies that assess the impact of management techniques, including stocking, wild fish, habitat modifications and regulations on respective fisheries to meet program objectives.
Aquatic Resource Education provides educational opportunities and outreach activities to target audiences, including the development and delivery of materials and training to aid in angler recruitment, reactivation and retention.
Another portion goes to Maintenance of Public Access Facilities, including approximately 250 PFBC-owned and managed facilities that were acquired or developed with both federal and non-federal funds, to provide fishing and boating opportunities.
Fifteen percent of Dingell-Johnson funds must be used on Recreational Boating Access, so the PFBC's Boating Facility Grant Program provides grants to eligible entities for the construction and improvement of public boat access facilities. Another program, the Boating Infrastructure Grant provides funding for tie-up and docking facilities for transient, non-trailered vessels such as scenic river cruise boats in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that bring economic value to the area.
The Clean Vessel Act supports the construction, renovation, operation and maintenanceof pump-out stations and waste reception facilities to meet the needs of recreationalboaters at public marinas and locally operated boat access areas.
Lastly, Recreational Boating Safety has been prioritized, as the program helps fund the development and delivery of effective public boating education programs, implementation of strategies to reduce boating fatalities and incidents, and the enforcement of boating laws and regulations.
Even with budget changes at the national level, Schaeffer is optimistic that this critical funding will remain intact, which should help prevent an increase in fishing license costs.
'We think these excise taxes are safe, because they are applied directly by the manufacturers into the consumer pricing, and it is extracted as 10-percent of the totalsale,' Schaeffer said. 'I've walked through the halls of outdoor shows, explaining to vendors how we use these excise tax dollars.
'Most businesses didn't know what their money was going towards, but they were pleased to hear it's being used to directly benefit their customers.'
Just like catch-and-release fishing, these funds are redistributed for others to enjoy.
(Frantz is a past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association. Contact the writer: outdoors@
