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 […]

The MRAA is working with the U.S. Congress to address water resource problems around both the Great Lakes and the Upper Mississippi River Basin. We are looking for specific projects to point out to Congress, and to help them develop flood plans for the region. Is flooding affecting your business? Please email MRAA Government Relations […]

The Boat House Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of Bald Knob Marina in Johnsburg, IL. This transaction represents a significant step towards aggressively expanding the dealership footprint while supporting the growth and customer base of The Boat House and Bald Knob Marina. The acquisition will combine the current Boat House Chicago and Bald […]

On January 27, the Indiana House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on an amendment to House Bill 1385 #2, which would allow boaters to wake surf behind a forward-facing engine. MRAA, along with its partners, the National Marine Manufacturer Association and Water Sports Industry Association supported this measure. Two MRAA members, Preston Schenkel […]