The Advisory Council of Marine Associations has released its annual list of policy resolutions. ACMA is comprised of associations in the recreational marine industries, state and regional marine trade associations, and other interested parties. The group serves as a sounding board for MRAA’s legislative priorities and the recreational boating industry at large. During a meeting that took place at the 2017 Marine Dealer Conference and Expo, participants discussed the current state of the marine industry’s policy priorities, and devised a list of four major areas on which MRAA should focus its legislative and advocacy efforts for 2018.

Workforce development efforts, including:

• Aggressively supporting any legislation, federal and state, that increases the creation of, access to and funding for vocational training programs and facilities on the high school and community college level
• Promote member dealers directly connecting with their local school systems;
• Make known available materials such as from ABYC, Sea Grant and others;
• Examine creation of good apprenticeship programs;
• Call for the availability of government grants (such as Pell Grants), corporate and government scholarships and other form of financial assistance.

Recreational Fishing:

• Federal issues, such as the “Modern Fish Act – Reauthorization of Magnuson-Steven Act, that impact access to fishing for recreational boaters;
• Advocate for recognition of recreational boating and fishing’s enormous positive economic impact;
• Support marine trade associations’ effort regarding fishing issues, for example the ongoing threat of Asian Carp entering the Great Lakes.

Ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard:

• MRAA should be engaged in advocating for and supporting all revisions to the Renewable Fuel Standard and other similar efforts to cap the amount of ethanol in fuel supplies.
• MRAA should actively respond and refute inaccurate claims about the renewable fuel standard and ethanol’s effects on marine engines.

Environmental and Infrastructure Concerns:

• The prioritization of “low tonnage” federal channels by the Army Corps of Engineers;
• Call for aggressive action (federal and state) on the nation-wide algae bloom problems;
• Support renewal of the Water Resources & Development Act and dredging of the ICW;
• Support programs to prevent invasive species that threaten the health of our waterways;
• Be prepared to lobby for projects positively impacting waterways and boating in federal infrastructure proposals expected from the Administration in 2018.

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, of which MRAA is a member, last week called for governors in all 50 states to establish an Outdoor Recreation (OREC) Office and reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with state leaders to advance outdoor recreation priorities across the country. 

This call follows last week’s National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., during which ORR met with several governors and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to discuss the importance of the outdoor recreation industry to state economies. The discussions between ORR members and participating governors, including Govs. Matthew Mead (R-Wyo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Gary Herbert (R-Utah) centered around the need for OREC offices in every state to facilitate greater public participation in outdoor recreation activities and generate stronger local economic activity. Each governor was honored for his contribution to the great outdoors and was presented with a commemorative challenge coin for the commitment to delivering prosperity and fun through outdoor recreation.

“OREC offices have proven to be exceptionally effective at encouraging greater use of the great outdoors,” said Derrick Crandall, ORR president. “Greater participation in outdoor recreation means a stronger economy – something each of the governors we honored last week fully understands. As the prime months for outdoor recreation are upon us, we encourage all governors to join their peers who are already experiencing the benefits of an OREC office in their state.”

OREC offices play a critical role in increasing outdoor recreation participation by working with local communities to improve infrastructure, coordinating recreation efforts statewide and promoting the benefits of engaging in outdoor recreation among the citizens of their state. To date, OREC offices have been established in eight states: Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

“It was an honor to welcome so many leaders who share in our enthusiasm for enhancing outdoor recreation in the United States,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, ORR vice chair and president of the RV Industry Association. “As the nation’s premier outdoor recreation coalition, ORR looks forward to working with the nation’s governors to develop OREC offices in all 50 states so that we can maximize the rapidly growing economic impact of our industry nationwide.”

Earlier this month, the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account of the Bureau of Economic Analysis – the government agency responsible for reporting U.S. GDP – calculated for the first time the outdoor recreation industry’s annual gross output: $673 billion, or 2 percent of GDP, which surpasses other sectors such as agriculture, petroleum and coal, and computer and electronic products. The report also showed the outdoor recreation industry’s GDP has increased an average of 4.4% since 2012, significantly greater than the 3.6% average increase in the overall U.S. GDP. This is the latest evidence of the rapid growth of the outdoor recreation industry.

ORR was formed in February 2018 with the merger of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable, a coalition of America’s leading outdoor recreation trade associations, and the American Recreation Coalition, an organization of recreation interests that has had a significant and positive impact on outdoor recreation for more than three decades.

Last week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved S. 1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017, commonly referred to as the Modern Fish Act. This legislation calls for critically important updates to the oversight of federal fisheries, including adding more tools to the management toolbox, improving data collection techniques, and examining some fishery allocations that are based on decades-old decisions.

 

Chris Manusco of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership recently penned a great analysis of the bill and it’s potential benefits for recreational anglers.

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced a $60 million cooperative agreement with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to help retain and recruit recreational anglers and boaters of all ages. Zinke is also announcing $14 million in Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG), which support water-related outdoor recreation and tourism by improving facilities for large transient recreational boats across the country.

The Secretary made the announcement prior to attending the “Saluting the Nation’s Governors as Champions of the Great Outdoors” event, which was hosted by The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and The Great Outdoors Month® Council.

“Outdoor recreation is a key part of our American heritage, and boating and fishing in particular are how many Americans enjoy our public waters,” said Secretary Zinke. “The new cooperative agreement with RBFF is going to make sure we are reaching new anglers and boaters from all ages to get out on the water. The BIG grants help ensure that those new recreationists, as well as those who have enjoyed these activities for years, experience improved access to fishing opportunities with safer and more user-friendly recreational boating facilities.”

The five-year, $12-million-per-year RBFF agreement will allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and RBFF to work together to bolster angler and boater numbers while engaging outdoor enthusiasts in natural resource stewardship. The USFWS BIG program provides funding through excise and other taxes on certain fishing equipment and boating fuel to support dedicated boat tie-up facilities and associated amenities to help Americans enjoy the nation’s waters.

“The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, in partnership with the Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state natural resource agencies, and industry stakeholders has increased fishing participation by nearly 20 percent over the past 10 years,” said Glenn Hughes, American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) Vice President, Industry Relations. “ASA is very pleased that RBFF’s grant was renewed for another five years, ensuring that there are a many programs and campaigns to recruit, retain and reactivate anglers.”

“The role of RBFF and the work they do helping Americans get on the water, which in turn supports the conservation and restoration of our nation’s aquatic resources, has an incredibly positive and lasting impact on the recreational boating and fishing industries,” said Thom Dammrich, President of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “We applaud the Department of the Interior for recognizing RBFF’s significant contribution to outdoor recreation, and we look forward to continuing to support their efforts on behalf of the 142 million Americans who go boating each year.”

BIG Program

Nearly $10 million will be awarded competitively for 10 projects in seven states under the BIG Tier II subprogram. The Service will also release $4 million to fund 33 projects in 23 states, commonwealths and territories under the BIG Tier I subprogram. States and their partners will provide more than $16 million in non-federal matching funds toward these projects. These grants are awarded on an annual basis. A full list of projects and funding can be found here.

Funding for the BIG program comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Since its inception in 2000, the BIG program has awarded $194 million to projects for large transient recreational boats, including the construction of more than 5,000 berths for boaters across most states and U.S. territories.

BIG funds support a wide variety of infrastructure features that add to the safety and enjoyment of America’s waters. These features include restrooms, bulkheads, day docks, dinghy docks, transient slips, mooring buoys, floating docks and fixed piers, dockside water supplies, marine fueling stations, and navigational aids such as channel markers.

RBFF Agreement

Like the BIG program, this agreement is funded through the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund. In FY 2017, this trust fund provided $349.4 million in sport fish restoration funds to states, insular areas and the District of Columbia to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, their habitats, sport fishing and recreational boating opportunities.

RBFF was selected as the grant recipient due to its extensive experience and proven success in marketing, outreach and education to increase angling and boating in the United States. Since its inception in 1998, RBFF has spearheaded innovative national outreach and education programs to promote fishing and boating and to educate the public on its conservation benefits.

RBFF’s work has had impact on many levels. For example, RBFF launched its 60 in 60 campaign in 2016, which seeks to reach 60 million anglers in 60 months. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which  represents all 50 states, several federal agencies, and industry, has embraced this campaign and is  working with RBFF to reach this ambitious goal. In addition, First Catch Centers are being piloted to bring angling skills to new participants. Several of these will be on Department of the Interior lands in Pennsylvania and Texas (including at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Laguna Atacosa National Wildlife Refuge, and Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery).

WASHINGTON, DC, – The National Marine Manufacturers Association recently released a white paper updating their members on the upcoming changes to California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, also known as Proposition 65. While the primary obligation for complying with the law falls on the manufacturer, changes to the law that shift more responsibility onto the retailer go into effect in August 2018. Being out of compliance with Prop 65 opens retailers up to lawsuits from governments and private citizens, with potentially disastrous financial results.
 
According to law firm K&L Gates: Retailers have been frequent targets of claims by “bounty hunters.”  Existing regulations have attempted to place the burden of providing warnings on the manufacturer, producer, or packager, but the new regulations go further.  Unless they label their products, manufacturers, producers, and packagers must document that they have notified retailers of the need to provide warnings and provided all necessary warning materials.  Retailers are only responsible for providing warnings if they have been notified but have failed to provide the warnings, if they are selling “house brands,” or in other limited circumstances.

Questions? Contact MRAA Public Policy Manager Will Higgins for more information.

Inaugural Report Highlights Economic Influence of Outdoor Recreation Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) today applauded the release of the first-ever government report recognizing the outdoor recreation industry as a significant economic contributor to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Released by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)—the government agency responsible for reporting U.S. GDP—the report calculated the outdoor recreation industry’s annual gross output to be $673 billion, surpassing other sectors such as agriculture, petroleum and coal, and computer and electronic products. The report marks a critical step forward for the outdoor recreation industry by formally recognizing its economic influence.

“Today’s report affirms what those of us in the outdoor community already know – outdoor recreation has a far-reaching positive impact across the U.S. and our economy,” said Thom Dammrich, ORR chair and president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “As an industry, we are proud to generate millions of American jobs and be a driving economic force from coast to coast, and we are grateful that BEA and the Department of Commerce have decided to recognize that. This report is further evidence of the need for sound public policy that encourages continued growth in the outdoor recreation industry.”

ORR was formed in February 2018 with the merger of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable, a coalition of America’s leading outdoor recreation trade associations, and the American Recreation Coalition, an organization of recreation interests that has had a significant and positive impact on outdoor recreation for more than three decades. ORR is committed to advancing the basic elements needed to grow this vital economic sector, including sound and sustainable management of U.S. public lands and waters, and updating infrastructure and technology on those lands to create quality experiences in response to changing recreation preferences.

“This recognition of outdoor recreation as a significant sector of the American economy underscores the importance of the work that our members and thousands of other businesses engage in every day,” said Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “As we look to the future, we hope that this will serve as a reminder to our policymakers that the upkeep of our nation’s waters and public lands is vital to economic success.”

In addition to reporting on the outdoor recreation industry’s annual gross output, the BEA’s initial findings report that outdoor recreation makes up 2.0 percent of the U.S. GDP. More importantly, the outdoor recreation industry’s GDP has increased an average of 4.4 percent since 2012, significantly greater than the 3.6-percent average increase in the overall U.S. GDP.

“This is a welcome signal of the critical economic role outdoor recreation plays in the United States,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, ORR vice chair and president of the RV Industry Association. “We are thrilled to represent a rapidly growing industry that helps keep America’s economy strong and brings enjoyment to millions of Americans. Given the right public policies, outdoor recreation will continue to be an American economic engine for years to come.”

The full report issued by ORSA and BEA can be found here.

Washington, D.C. – Recreation industry leaders announced today the formation of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a powerful unified entity that will provide a strong voice for outdoor recreation across America. The new organization combines the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable, a coalition of America’s leading outdoor recreation trade associations, which was formed in 2017, and the American Recreation Coalition (ARC), an organization of recreation interests that has had a significant and positive impact on outdoor recreation for more than three decades.

The newly elected chair and vice chair of ORR spoke about the importance of the new organization and its mission. “Protecting, promoting and enhancing recreational experiences on America’s public lands and waters are core values for those of us who are privileged to work in the outdoor recreation industry,” said Thom Dammrich, ORR chair and president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “We not only have the most at stake when it comes to preserving outdoor spaces, we also have the most at stake when it comes to moving policy forward and providing visitor services that meet the needs of the modern outdoor lifestyle.”

“Outdoor recreation is rising in popularity and diversity,” noted ORR Vice Chair Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the RV Industry Association. “Consumer expectations have radically changed while public land and water management have not kept up with their needs. Because of this, industry leaders have searched for new ways to strengthen the collective voice of the outdoor recreation industry to ensure it remains a critical economic engine and growing pastime for all Americans.”

Joining Dammrich and Hugelmeyer as ORR officers are Glenn Hughes, president-elect of the American Sportfishing Association, who will serve as secretary, and Phil Ingrassia, president of the RV Dealers Association, who will serve as treasurer.

The transition will be guided by an expanded board of directors chaired by Dammrich. Implementation of programs and activities will be overseen by ORR’s new Chief Staff Officer Derrick Crandall, who had been president of ARC. Expanded communications efforts, supported by new staff resources, will begin by mid-2018. The ORR Board will announce further details as they become available. Most ARC programs will continue uninterrupted, including Great Outdoors Month® and Partners Outdoors, along with regular policy briefings and other communications.

The transition to the new organization began in early 2017, when the clear value of a more unified and focused recreation industry, advocating on behalf of a multi-billion-dollar industry sector, became evident. Together, industry leaders spoke out on the importance of the recreation economy and the basic elements needed to grow this vital economic sector, including: updated infrastructure to support quality experiences; sound and sustainable management of the nation’s public lands and waters; responsiveness to changing recreation preferences; and utilization of new technology. The industry delivered another unifying message: Public-private partnerships are essential to reduce the multi-billion-dollar maintenance backlog on public lands and to provide needed recreation facility upgrades.

In October, an unprecedented gathering of outdoor recreation trade association executives explored ways to meet these challenges and reached agreement on the following long-term objectives:

• Achieve recognition that outdoor recreation is a major economic player and that growth of the outdoor recreation economy is a necessary and bipartisan goal;
• Persuade the federal government to embrace a pro-recreation “culture change”;
• Increase recreational access to public lands and waters;
• Advocate for sustainable funding and increased usage of public-private partnerships;
• Boost infrastructure modernization and reduce backlogged maintenance to produce better visitor experiences;
• Continue to support responsible conservation efforts; and
• Encourage the next generation’s participation in outdoor recreation activities.

The participants concluded that the industry needed to unite even further to form the clear and leading voice for the outdoor recreation industry, setting the stage for the formation of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable a short three months later.