U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) recently announced more than $10.7 million in federal funding for sustainable fishing, hunting and wildlife conservation in the islands of Hawaii.
The funding is from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program that received a record $1.5 billion this year, according to the Star-Advertiser.
"Fishing, hunting and enjoying the outdoors are part of Hawaii’s history and our way of life," Schatz said in a Feb. 15 Tweet. "This new investment will make sure that continues for future generations."
The funds will go to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) who will then use it for several areas of need. The program will support scientific research, educational programs and habitat restoration and protection.
“We are pleased to see an increase in funding to Hawaii through the strong sales of hunting and fishing equipment, which fund the Pittman-Robertson Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux programs," Hawaii DLNR Spokesperson Dan Denninson said, according to the Star Advertiser.
Supporting staff and longstanding native species, the program will also finance hunting and fishing programs.
The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife received more than $3 million last year and will receive more than $4 million this year. Denninson tells the Star-Advertiser that the grant will be leveraged again to "meet critical needs."
"These annually apportioned federal funds support important hunting and fishing programs within the Department, as well as critical native wildlife conservation actions," Denninson said, according to the Star-Advertiser. "The additional funds will protect and improve access to areas for hunting and fishing and support actions to prevent the extinction of Hawaiian plants and animals.”
Schatz is a U.S. senator serving Hawaii and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He chairs the Indian Affairs Committee and serves in the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Foreign Relations Committee and the Select Committee of Ethics. Schatz has served as the Chief Deputy Whip for the Senate Democratic Caucus leadership team.