Comment Letter Calls for Balanced Conservation Measures, Greater Use of Technology and Stronger Economic Analysis
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager In early April, leaders from across the recreational fishing industry gathered in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Keep America Fishing Fly-In. The event, a coordinated advocacy effort, was designed to bring industry perspectives directly to Capitol Hill. For the
MRAA Weighs in on Right Whale Vessel Strike Avoidance Rule WASHINGTON (May 22, 2026) – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) advocacy team joined a roundtable hosted by the United States Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy to discuss the 2008 Vessel Strike Avoidance Rule. They provided input
Gov. McMaster signs H.3858 into law after a years-long effort amongst several organizations across the recreational boating industry.
MRAA participated in a bipartisan Capitol Hill briefing focused on federal boating access policy and the infrastructure investments that support public access to U.S. waterways.
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has taken an important first step toward reexamining federal vessel regulations intended to protect the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, and this development has meaningful implications for the
• MRAA Advocacy update: New bill addressing boat loan interest deduction will make boat ownership more affordable for everyday Americans WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2026) — The No Tax on Boat Loan Interest Act of 2026, recently introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, proposes extending the above‑the‑line loan interest deduction available for
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), joined by several Connecticut-based marine retailers, has submitted formal comments to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) regarding its proposed Wake Boat and Wakesurf Study. The wakesurfing study is intended to evaluate the operation and impacts of wake boats
• New legislation would modernize accessibility to saltwater recreational fishing regulations and marine waters navigation information WASHINGTON, September 12, 2025 – Saltwater anglers, hunters and marine recreationists joined the, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Marine Manufacturers Association, American Sportfishing Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager In May the United States Coast Guard announced plans to remove a number of Aids to Navigation (ATONs) across the Northeast. These ATONs — buoys, markers and beacons — are essential tools that guide boaters safely through our nation’s waterways. The Coast Guard
