Conservation Corner

Lott Leads Effort To Recover Fishing and Boating Funds

by James L. Cummins

Senator Trent Lott recently introduced Senate Bill 2019, a measure to safeguard anglers and boaters' investments in fishing and boating access and quality by recovering the full amount of excise taxes they contribute under the Sport Fish Restoration Act. The Senate bill mirrors the Sportfishing and Boating Equity Act of 2003.

"The legislation Senator Lott introduced would add $110 million annually under the Sport Fish Restoration Act, which will mean at least an additional $1.1 million for each state's fishing and boating programs every year," said Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association.

"I'm a strong advocate of reserving all the motorboat fuel tax revenue in the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund to support infrastructure improvements and promote a clean, safe environment for the boating and fishing public," said Lott. "This practice of directing fuel tax revenues into trust funds has been a boon for supporting highway and aviation needs, and I advocate its adoption for aquatic use as well."

For more than 10 years, only 75 percent of anglers and boaters' federal motor boat fuel taxes has been directed to the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, a user-pay fund that provides revenues for fishing and boating programs across the nation. Congress required the U.S. Treasury to redirect 25 percent of the excise taxes on motor boat and small engine fuels each year to the General Treasury instead of channeling these revenues to the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund.

The Sport Fish Restoration Act set up the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund as the collection point for motor boat fuel taxes and other excise taxes on fishing gear. Altogether the fund amounts to about $450 million per year, which is ultimately parceled to state fish and wildlife agencies. Boat fuel taxes make up $284 million of that amount. The current tax is 18.3 cents per gallon, yet only 13.5 cents out of that 18.3 are currently being channeled to the Fund.

The new legislation would ensure the full amount is channeled to the fund to ensure revenues are used to enhance fishing and boating as the Sport Fish Restoration Act intended. Under its provisions, the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund is to be used for conservation and restoration; fishing and boating access facilities; monitoring; and education and safety programs for anglers and boaters.

Senator Lott is a long-time supporter of sportsmen. We are extremely pleased that Senator Lott is working to assure that all of anglers and boaters' fuel tax dollars are properly directed.

In 2003, Mississippi received $3,445,468 in funding from the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. If passed, Senator Lott's efforts would add and additional $1,428,894 per year to Mississippi's fund.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.