MRAA and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable offered enthusiastic support for Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke’s recent recognition of outdoor recreation in his Secretarial Orders #3365 and #3366 in a letter.
 
Secretarial Order 3365 creates the position of Senior National Advisor to the Secretary for Recreation.  ORR noted that is the first time in nearly 40 years that the term “recreation” has been used in the title of one of the Department’s senior officials or offices – not since the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service (successor to the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation) was combined with the National Park Service under President Reagan.
 
The second Secretarial Order, SO 3366, directs bureaus within the Department to: create plans to develop new recreational opportunities or to increase and expand existing opportunities; provide recommendations for improving and streamlining relevant permitting requirements for outdoor recreation providers; and improve the contracting processes for recreation-specific concessioners.
 
The new policy guidance supports coordination and cooperation with all segments of the outdoor recreation industry – including large and small businesses operating on Interior lands and waters under various permits, concessions agreements and other instruments – as well as with states, local governments and tribal and territorial interests while calling for strong intra-departmental collaboration, paralleling current efforts on reorganization.
 
In its letter of support, ORR offered five recommendations: 

1. That the new National Senior Policy Advisor for Recreation begin monthly “open houses” at Interior for discussions on key outdoor recreation topics;
2. That the new Made in America Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee begin its work this summer with a review of the reports required by SO 3366 and development of recommendations for appropriate actions;
3. That the same new advisory committee regularly gather and review the recreation-related recommendations and reports of other Interior boards, committees and councils in cooperation with the National Senior Advisor for Recreation;
4. That the National Senior Advisor plan a national coordination meeting for state and key private sector partners of the Department, as announced in the Secretary’s May 2 letter to Governors; and
5. That the National Senior Advisor for Recreation expedite Department efforts to reduce the burdens facing recreation on Interior lands and waters, including those faced by outfitters, guides, facilitated outdoor recreation providers and concessioners.

Read the full letter here. 

Congressman Austin Scott and Congresswoman Lois Frankel, members of the Congressional Boating Caucus, introduced the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018. The bipartisan legislation would more clearly label harmful and corrosive E15 ethanol blended gasoline at pumps across the country, which would better protect engines in boats, motorcycles, pre-2001 model year vehicles and outdoor power equipment.

“In Florida, recreational boating is more than just a way of life – it’s an $11 billion industry supporting more than 56,000 jobs,” said Congresswoman Frankel. “This bipartisan bill educates people on their fueling options to keep boats running well, so it’s calm waters all year long.”

“As we are presented with more choices at the gas pump, it is imperative that American consumers know exactly what kind of fuel they are putting into their engines,” said Congressman Scott. “Gas pumps today are riddled with confusing labels that fail to adequately warn consumers of the dangers of fueling small engine equipment with E15. For this reason, with the support of Congresswoman Frankel, I introduced the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018. By making fuel pump labels easier to decipher and coordinating public education programs, this legislation can save consumers time and energy at the pumps and avoid headaches and costs down the road.”  

“Thanks to the leadership of Representative Scott and Representative Frankel, American consumers and 141 million recreational boaters will be better insulated from the danger of improperly fueling their boat engines with an unsafe, unreliable and often incompatible fuel option,” said Thom Dammrich, President of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “E15 fuel is often sold at retail gas stations, and currently 63 percent of consumers assume all products sold at these stations are safe for their engines despite the fact that high ethanol fuel blends are prohibited in boat engines. The Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018 addresses that challenge head on and will direct the Administrator of the EPA to revise the labeling requirements for fuel pumps that dispense E15, and to develop and execute a public education campaign that expands awareness of the risks associated with E15.”

The Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018 would require more detailed labeling of gas pumps that dispense E15 fuel, or fuel with a 15% ethanol, 85% gasoline blend. E15 fuel has been determined to not be suitable for small engines in outdoor equipment and non-road products as E15 can cause corrosion, reduced fuel storage, and less engine lubrication resulting in engines to overheat. Examples of impacted equipment include items such as lawn mowers, weed eaters, generators, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicle (ATVs), and boats, among others. E15 can also cause issues for vehicles, especially those produced before 2001.

Continuing his efforts to increase access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced yesterday a proposal to open more than 248,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 30 national wildlife refuges.

Opportunities include places like Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois and Wisconsin, and deer hunting in Philadelphia at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge being proposed for the first time. The proposal also outlines expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 136 national wildlife refuges. If finalized, this would bring the number of units of the National Wildlife Refuge System where the public may fish to 312.

“As stewards of our public lands, Interior is committed to opening access wherever possible for hunting and fishing so that more families have the opportunity to pass down this American heritage,” Secretary Zinke said. “These 30 refuges will provide incredible opportunities for American sportsmen and women across the country to access the land and connect with wildlife.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) proposal would open more new acres to hunting and fishing than in the past and takes steps to simplify regulations to more closely match state hunting and fishing regulations.

Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $156 billion in economic activity in communities across the United States in 2016 according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years. More than 101 million Americans – 40 percent of the U.S. population 16 and older – pursue wildlife-related recreation, such as hunting, fishing and birding.

“Ensuring public lands are open for multiple uses supports local economies and provides important opportunities for recreation. Further, this proposal means that families and individuals across our nation will be better able to participate in our nation’s tradition of hunting and fishing. We appreciate Secretary Zinke and the Interior Department for advancing this priority, and we will continue to work to improve access to public lands for our sportsmen,” said Senator John Hoeven.

“Public lands should be open for the public to enjoy,” said Chairman Rob Bishop of Utah. “The Department of the Interior’s latest decision to expand acreage and access for hunting and fishing on wildlife refuges was the right move. Secretary Zinke’s decision will help our economy grow and enable those who hunt and fish to spend more time catching game and less time caught in red tape.”

“North Dakota is a sportsman’s paradise. The decision to expand access to public lands by opening more than 248,000 acres across the nation to hunting and fishing will provide new economic opportunities for local communities as well as open up new areas for anglers and hunters,” said Congressman Kevin Cramer. “For the first time, the J. Clark Salyer and Lostwood National Wildlife Refuges will be open to moose hunting. I commend the Secretary’s decision and look forward to working with the department.”

“Hunters, anglers and shooting sports enthusiasts play a crucial role in funding the management and conservation of North America’s wildlife,” said Service Principal Deputy Director Greg Sheehan. “We are providing sportsmen and women with more access to our national wildlife refuges and streamlining regulations to more closely align with our state partners. And that’s good news for our customers.”

The Service manages hunting and fishing programs to ensure sustainable wildlife populations while also offering other traditional wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands, such as wildlife watching and photography. The Refuge System is an unparalleled network of 566 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas.

“The proposed expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities through working partnership with the states is a demonstration of Secretary Zinke’s commitment to our nation’s outdoor heritage and the conservation community,” said Virgil Moore, President of the Association of the Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. “These efforts reaffirm the tremendous value of quality wildlife habitat and outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting and fishing, in connecting millions of Americans to the outdoors.”

“We applaud Secretary Zinke and the Fish and Wildlife Service for their continued commitment to increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing within the National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President Jeff Crane. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Interior on increasing access for sportsmen and women.”

More than 53 million Americans visit refuges every year. National wildlife refuges provide vital habitat for thousands of species and access to world-class recreation, from fishing, hunting and boating to nature watching, photography and environmental education. In doing so, they support regional economies to the tune of $2.4 billion dollars per year and support more than 35,000 jobs.

Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service permits hunting and fishing along with four other types of wildlife-dependent recreation, including wildlife photography, environmental education, wildlife observation and interpretation, when they are compatible with an individual refuge’s purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is currently permitted on 337 wildlife refuges and 37 wetland management districts. Fishing is currently permitted on 277 wildlife refuges and 34 wetland management districts.

NOAA Fisheries is considering new regulations that would open the door for a 2018 limited season for red snapper in the South Atlantic. Called Amendment 43, it would allow recreational anglers to harvest one red snapper per person per day. Fishing would be allowed on weekends only and the season start and end dates would be announced if the amendment is approved.

The South Atlantic red snapper stock has increased in abundance over the last several years at an even faster rate than predicted. All signs point to a quickly rebuilding fishery. By allowing a limited season, the amendment will reduce the socio-economic hardships experienced by fishermen and fishing communities while continuing to rebuild the fishery. It would also provide much needed harvest and discard data for stock assessments.

Tell NOAA that you support Amendment 43 and a limited 2018 red snapper season in the South Atlantic. TAKE ACTION HERE.

Starting today, MRAA and other representatives of the recreational boating industry will convene in Washington DC for the annual American Boating Congress. ABC is the industry’s primary political and legislative gathering, where all sectors of recreational boating work for three full days to present a unified front to congress on the critical issues impacting our industry. Top issues this year will include addressing the workforce crisis in the marine industry, getting the Modern Fish Act passed, and stopping the year-round sale of E15.

Read more about the ABC program here: http://www.nmma.org/government/abc

Regardless of whether you are or are not registered to attend, participating in our digital conversation will help elevate our policy priorities to Member of Congress. We encourage you to engage with us on social media and help spread the word about the most important issues facing the recreational boating industry. You can access sample tweets and posts, images and videos here.

Make sure to use the hashtag #ABC2018 and share the link above with your entire team. Elected officials and their staff pay close attention to social media, and engagement from your entire team will strengthen our advocacy.