By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager

On September 17, President Donald Trump signed the “Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation” Executive Order, directing federal agencies to elevate recreational fishing and boating as important considerations in federal ocean, coastal and public-land decision-making. This EO showcases the Administration’s focus on supporting the recreational fishing and boating industries throughout our nation.

Elevating Recreational Fishing in Federal Decision-Making

The order establishes a federal policy of elevating the marine recreational fishing industry as an important consideration in federal ocean, coastal and public-land decisions. It directs federal agencies to work with states and the private sector to improve fisheries data collection while eliminating unnecessary restrictions that burden charter businesses, boaters and outdoor businesses.

It also calls for federal fisheries management to better account for the unique biological, economic and social characteristics of recreational fisheries, including greater consideration of state-level data to help inform federal fisheries decisions. Increased use and integration of state-level data may ultimately help to increase access through lengthening seasons or increasing bag limits, providing more opportunities for boaters to get out on the water.

That could matter to dealerships because access to healthy, productive fisheries is closely tied to boat sales, service, storage, marina activity, tackle sales and other business activity throughout the recreational boating economy.

Better Data Could Mean Better Fisheries Management

One of the most significant elements is its focus on modernizing the data used to manage recreational fisheries. This includes directing NOAA to evaluate traditional recreational catch-and-effort surveys and move toward modern electronic reporting and data collection technologies, including mobile applications. It also calls for pilot programs designed to test innovative approaches to recreational fisheries data collection and management.

The Commerce Department is directed to develop a five-year strategic plan to improve the collection and use of recreational fisheries economic data. That plan is specifically intended to account for the economic impact of recreational fishing, including shoreside support industries.

For marine retailers, that recognition is important. Boat dealerships, marinas, service departments, boatyards and other marine businesses are part of the economic infrastructure supporting recreational fishing. Better economic data can help policymakers better understand the consequences that fisheries and access decisions can have throughout the recreational boating economy.

Marine Mammal Conservation and the Right Whale

The Executive Order also calls for federal agencies to make greater use of innovation for marine mammal avoidance, including coordination with the private sector to integrate new technologies. This is particularly relevant to an issue on which MRAA has been actively engaged: the federal North Atlantic right whale vessel strike reduction rule.

In June, MRAA submitted comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service in response to the agency’s review of potential changes to the rule. Our advocacy called for conservation measures that protect North Atlantic right whales while maintaining reasonable access for recreational boaters and accounting for the economic impacts on marine retailers and other small businesses.

MRAA also highlighted the potential for technology to play a greater role in conservation. In our comments, we highlighted dynamic management measures and whale-detection technologies as potential tools for focusing protections where right whales are actually present, rather than relying exclusively on broad seasonal vessel-speed restrictions. That approach aligns closely with the direction outlined in the new Executive Order.

MRAA has been engaged on the right whale issue for several years, including opposing NOAA’s 2022 proposal to expand vessel-speed restrictions to recreational vessels 35 feet and larger. More recently, we emphasized the need for NOAA to better understand the potential impacts of vessel-use restrictions on marine dealerships, vessel sales, marinas and the broader recreational boating economy.

This an important example of why the Executive Order’s emphasis on technology and private-sector engagement matters. Marine dealers are not simply businesses affected by conservation policy. They can also be part of the solution through customer education, installation of marine technologies and helping boaters understand and comply with conservation measures.

What This Means for Marine Retailers

While the Executive Order will indeed have a large and lasting impact on marine recreational fishing policy, much of its impact will depend on how federal agencies implement the directives over the coming months and years.

The order establishes recreational fishing and its supporting industries as an explicit consideration in federal ocean and fisheries policy. Additionally, it creates opportunities to improve how the federal government accounts for recreational fishing, economic impacts, state-level data, marine access and technology.

For MRAA members, implementation will matter. The association will continue monitoring the actions taken by federal agencies and identifying where implementation could affect marine retailers and their customers. As specific regulatory and policy proposals emerge, MRAA will work with industry partners, state associations and our members. We will advocate for practical policies that support responsible resource management while maintaining reasonable access to America’s waterways.

The right whale issue provides a good example of what that engagement looks like. MRAA’s work is focused not simply on opposing regulations, but on helping policymakers understand how proposed restrictions affect marine retailers while identifying opportunities for technology, education and targeted management to accomplish conservation goals.

This is another reminder that decisions made in Washington can have very real consequences at the dealership, from whether customers can access the fisheries they bought their boats to enjoy, to the technologies and conservation practices businesses may be asked to support.

Keep in Touch with MRAA Advocacy

MRAA Advocacy will continue tracking these developments and keeping members informed as the Executive Order moves from policy direction to implementation. Reach out today with any questions or to get involved in our advocacy efforts.