The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950, commonly known as the Dingell-Johnson (DJ) Act established a "User Pay/User Benefit"
philosophy for funding State sport fish restoration and conservation efforts. Congress recognized that the destruction of fishery resources and fish habitats, which occurred over
the previous 300 years, had to be reversed, and that a restoration/conservation effort, with a stable funding source, woulf be needed to make meaningful progress. These
funds have played a vital role in the management of Maine's sport fish resources since they were first used in 1950 to enhance the Department's sport fish management
capabilities. Revenues are collected by the federal government from excise taxes on fishing equipment, electric motors and sonar, from import dues on fishing equipment,
pleasure boats and yachts, and from motorboat fuel taxes. These revenues are apportioned back to the States annually and support a wide array of projects in Maine which include:
- fishery population assessments
- long-range species management planning
- development of management recommendations
- implementation of management programs
- acquisition, development and management of water access sites.
In 1999, Maine received a total apportoinment of $2,124,291.00. Of this amount, a minimum of 15% (or $318,643.65) was obligated for use with water access projects. The remaining 85% of
the apportionment was obligated for fishery restoration projects of the Department of Marine Resources (which received $397,242.42 or 42%) and the Department of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife (which received $1,408,404.93 or 78%).
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