The Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (DESCEND Act) (H.R. 5126/S. 2960) was signed into law January 13. The bipartisan law requires recreational (including charter boats) and commercial fishermen to have on board a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use while […]

As state legislatures begin their new sessions in the coming weeks, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA), are engaging with policy makers
 on key issues including wake surfing access. There have been four states that have proposed legislation that would restrict […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  January 29, 2021 — In response to President Joe Biden’s January 21 executive order on worker health and safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new recommendations and mandatory safety and health standards for employers. These recommendations create no new legal obligations for employers. The executive order also tasks OSHA […]

      Source: David Maiolo   WASHINGTON DC – December 21, 2020 – Today, Congress unveiled text for its long-awaited $2.5 trillion COVID-19 stimulus and year-end spending package, the second largest bill in U.S. history, and clearing a path for passage sometime late Monday evening after midnight.   The 5,593-page package includes a $1.4 […]

After weeks of negotiations, the top four congressional leaders are looking like they could unveil a COVID-19 relief package later today, the most significant breakthrough in nearly eight months since the CARES Act was passed. This package would include several items important to the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas membership and the marine industry […]

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, including a number of priorities for the recreational boating industry. The package is expected to pass the U.S. Senate in before the end of the month. “Boating and fishing was the most popular outdoor recreation activity in the nation […]

When fueling up your boat at the gas station, can you tell the difference between a low-ethanol fuel that is fine for your engine and a higher blend ethanol fuel that can cause some serious damage? A new national poll conducted by a group of organizations, including MRAA, found that the current labeling is unsurprisingly […]

WASHINGTON DC — In response to a surge in COVID-19 cases, now reaching 13.3 million and over 266,000 deaths, a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers revived negotiations on Tuesday for a COVID-19 stimulus package that appeared dead in the water before Thanksgiving. The bipartisan proposal was introduced on Tuesday morning by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), […]

On November 10, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released updated economic data, including national and state level data for both 2018 and 2019, on outdoor recreation’s significant economic impact on the U.S. economy including national and state level data for both 2018 and 2019, showing $788 billion in economic output, […]