Staff furloughed as RBFF government funding is axed

The national body in the US charged with promoting recreational fishing and boating is facing a cash crisis after having its Government funding terminated.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) has already had to furlough half its staff and pause or cancel major national initiatives that include the Take Me Fishing campaign along with its social influencer, content and public relations activities.

The State-industry R3 (fishing recruitment, retention and reactivation) pilot projects and other partnership efforts have also been halted as well as the state grant programmes and other high profile initiatives.

More than $550,000 in matching funding from RBFF partners has also been delayed or withdrawn.

In a release issued this morning, Dave Chanda (pictured), President and CEO of the RBFF, said that since the organisation’s funding and campaigns stopped on April 1, there has been an 8% drop in fishing licence sales. “This is a reversal of the long-term growth we have worked together to build,” he said.

“If this decline were to play out nationally, the resulting economic loss could exceed $18 billion annually and put 90,000 jobs at risk.”

The funding crisis has been instigated by the decision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Department of the Interior (DOI) to terminate the RBFF’s cooperative agreement to implement the National Outreach and Communication Programme (NOCP), citing a shift in agency priorities.

“This decision came after an internal review process involving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Neither the RBFF or its Board were offered an opportunity to meet with DOI or address any perceived misalignment, despite our attempts to connect,” said Chanda.

“Moving forward the DOI has posted a new funding opportunity for the NOCP, which appears to favour a different delivery model, including an estimated 15 grants awarded instead of one. “RBFF will be applying these. Given the new approach, however, RBFF will likely not be the same organisation going forward.

“Still, we remain hopeful. RBFF was created by state and industry leaders with strong bipartisan support and for nearly three decades we have worked alongside the industry to elevate fishing and boating participation to record levels.”

“This collaboration helped boost conservation funding, outdoor access and rural economies across all 50 states – and we believe it is something worth continuing.”