Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Passes
with FAST

In great news for the boating industry, Friday's passage of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act includes reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through the year 2020. Grant monies for boating infrastructure and pumpouts will continue.

This "user pay, everyone benefits" program uses federal boat fuel and fishing tackle taxes to protect natural aquatic resources, enhance boating safety and provide more recreational fishing and boating opportunities. Since its inception, more than $7.5 billion has been collected and allocated to the states. Since 2004 over 3.8 billion fish have been stocked, 11,000+ boat ramps and access sites have been created or renovated and over 1,100+ transient boating facilities built, 4.7 million students taught aquatic education, over 63,000 acres of fish habitat protected, and over half a million boaters, sailors and anglers have completed an approved state boating safety education course.

AMI has been a member of the Angling and Boating Alliance for many years-an industry group that has lobbied to preserve and enhance this significant source of grant funds for the boating and angling communities.





For more information on these grants visit https://marinaassociation.org/government/grant-programs