On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor announced they will be hosting a national online dialogue to provide employers and employees with an opportunity to offer their perspective on compliance and implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This bill, signed into law last week, provides paid sick leave, free COVID-19 […]

This morning the U.S. Congress is finalizing their $2-trillion economic relief package for businesses to address the severe impact of the coronavirus pandemic on small businesses and their employees’ financial stability. MRAA, along with NMMA, and Association of Marina Industries (AMI), actively engaged with leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate throughout […]

Recreational fishing and boating groups applaud new bipartisan law Following vocal support from recreational fishermen, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a bipartisan bill improving menhaden management in the Atlantic. The legislation transfers management authority of Atlantic menhaden—a small oily baitfish that feeds sportfish like striped bass—to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which oversees every other […]

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) members, including MRAA, lauded the Senate for introducing a bipartisan bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, that prioritizes the $20 billion maintenance backlog facing our public lands and waters and finally fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). It includes the Restore Our Parks Act (ROPA), which would help […]

Bill supports recreational fishing economy and science-based management. With strong bipartisan support, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that improves menhaden management in the Atlantic.  The bill, which is headed to Governor Northam’s desk, transfers management authority of Atlantic menhaden to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which oversees every other saltwater fishery in the Commonwealth. […]

On February 19, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved the Biscayne National Park Fisheries Management Plan. The result of decades of debate, the recreational boating and fishing community successfully advocated for a plan that would increase the abundance of targeted species in the park by 20 percent without implementing a marine reserve […]

On February 10, U.S. Representatives John Katko (R-NY-24) and Anthony Brindisi (D-NY-22) introduced the Safe Harbors for Our Recreation Economy (SHORE) Act. This bipartisan legislation would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to account for recreation-based economic impacts in cost-benefit analysis procedures to prioritize funding […]

Hundreds of recreational boating industry stakeholders will descend on Washington, D.C. from May 12-14, 2020 for the American Boating Congress (ABC) – the industry’s annual advocacy summit to educate members of congress and the administration on issues impacting your business. And we cordially invite you to join us. ABC provides attendees with the unique opportunity […]

On Friday, January 31, MRAA submitted comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) in response for its request for industry comments on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Restoration Blueprint. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a significant destination for millions of recreational boaters and anglers […]

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ Board of Directors voted to adopt the Advisory Council of Marine Associations’ (ACMA) policy resolution to help direct the MRAA’s legislative and advocacy efforts for 2020. ACMA, created to advise the MRAA on its annual policy agenda, is comprised of state, regional and national marine trade associations, and […]