Senate Resolution No. 1122
BY: Senator HINCHEY
COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the
Sportfish Restoration Program as part of the
American system of conservation funding
WHEREAS, More than a century ago, hunters and anglers were among the
first conservationists who realized America's natural resources were in
peril and could not sustain unregulated harvest and habitat destruction;
and
WHEREAS, Sportsmen and women took it upon themselves to support laws
that stopped excessive harvest of fish and wildlife, established state
agencies to protect fish, wildlife, and their habitat, and supported
special fishing and hunting license fees to help fund the new agencies'
efforts to provide healthy natural resources for future generations; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes that the primary authority
to protect and manage fish within their state waters resides in state
agencies; and
WHEREAS, Upon realizing that license fees alone were insufficient to
restore and sustain healthy fish populations, anglers supported excise
taxes on fishing equipment to raise additional funds to support
restoration and enhancement efforts of state agencies; and
WHEREAS, The Sport Fish Restoration Program, which began 75 years
ago with the passage of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act in
1950 (further expanded with the Wallop-Breaux amendment to the Sport
Fish Restoration Act in 1984) is a vital part of conservation funding in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, A manufacturers excise tax on fishing equipment, along with
an excise tax on motorboat and small engine fuels, is mostly distributed
back to the states through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for
fisheries conservation, management, and angler and boater access; and
WHEREAS, This cooperative partnership between the sportfishing
industry, anglers, boaters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
state natural resource agencies has resulted in the most successful
model of fisheries management in the world, restoring and enhancing
populations across the United States and its territories; and
WHEREAS, Since 1939, the combined contribution of the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration Programs and license fees to state fish and
wildlife agencies exceeds $78 Billion-more than any other single
conservation effort in American history-which constitute, collectively,
the American System of Conservation Funding; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize America's anglers, boaters, the sportfishing industry, state
fish and wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for
their leading role in restoring healthy populations of fish and aquatic
resources, both game and non-game, to the abundance we see today with
the help of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, in this the 75th
anniversary year of the program's establishment as part of the American
System of Conservation Funding; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Department of Environmental Conservation, all New
York State Congressional offices, and local, regional and national media
sources so that all may know and appreciate the foresight and
contributions from anglers, the sportfishing industry, state fish and
wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of
our Nation's fisheries and aquatic resources.
