• MRAA Applauds Efforts to Protect Industry and Imperiled Wildlife
WASHINGTON, D.C, August 7, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas applauds the work of Senators Manchin (I-WV) and Graham (R-SC) for introducing S.4948, the bipartisan Protecting Whales, Human Safety, and the Economy Act of 2024 and continuing to be champions of the recreational boating industry.
The act aims to block implementation of the Proposed Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule while also putting in place a grant program through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund research on technological monitoring solutions for mariners, aimed at reducing encounters with the North Atlantic Right Whale. The Senate legislation complements H.R. 8704, legislation sponsored by Representatives Mary Peltola (D-AK) and Buddy Carter (R-GA), which MRAA Chairman of the Board and Owner of Strong’s Marine, Jeff Strong, testified on before the House Committee on Natural Resources in June.
“We cannot thank Senators Manchin and Graham enough for their continued support and leadership on this important issue,” said Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations. “It is no secret that technology exists today that can be leveraged now to better monitor the North Atlantic Right Whale and help avoid encounters between them and recreational boaters; however, this legislation will build upon current technology to find new and innovative ways to protect this important species.”
MRAA has continued to put pressure on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Biden administration, educating key officials and members of Congress about the impact the proposed rule will have on MRAA members and the marine industry at large.
In May, MRAA and the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) met with the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to highlight the impact the proposed rule will have on our members, highlighting the economic impact the proposed rule stands have and the likely $2 billion impact on marine retailers and marinas alone.
“Despite our continued efforts with the White House and NOAA, we must continue to pursue a legislative solution, because if this rule is finalized as currently drafted the proposed rule will have devastating impacts on MRAA members and the industry at large,” said Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. “Thankfully, our allies in the House and Senate continue to work with us to find a solution to better protect this important charismatic megafauna while maintaining access for recreational boaters, and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support and partnership.”
As the MRAA and our industry partners continue to fight back against the proposed Right Whale Vessel Speed rule be sure to sign up for alerts on Boating United to stay in the loop and engaged with any calls to action. If you have any questions please reach out to Tokowicz at Chad@mraa.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
Visit the MRAA Advocacy page to connect with our team.
