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TORONTO (June 1, 2016) -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada is developing a new boating safety initiative with the help of a grant from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat. NMMA Canada will receive $312,000 over the next three years as part of the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SARNIF) to create a safe boating application for smartphones to educate boaters and improve safety awareness.

A Government of Canada contribution program, SARNIF provides support for new products or initiatives that help to improve the National Search and Rescue Program. These may include training programs, search and rescue equipment, research and development or awareness campaigns.

“NMMA Canada is dedicated to promoting safe boating practices and this support from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat through SARNIF will help reach a larger audience with this important information,” said Sara Anghel, Executive Director/Vice-President of Government Relations, NMMA Canada. “An educated boater is a safe boater and NMMA strongly supports boater education.”

The project aims to deliver safety information to boaters through a dedicated and easily accessible smartphone app. App content informs boaters and the general public across Canada about safe boating practices and water safety. Similar to information provided by Discover Boating Canada on their website, DiscoverBoating.ca, this app will include boating safety checklists, how to properly operate a boat, marine weather resources, emergency procedures, navigation and buoy visual references. With nearly half of all Canadians spending time on the water, ensuring relevant and up-to-date information about boating is essential (NMMA Canada 2015).

“Feedback to the content released by Discover Boating Canada has been positive and this app will provide further opportunity for Canadians to obtain up-to-the-minute information about boating safely in Canada,” adds Anghel.

For more information about NMMA’s new online boater safety app, please contact Sara Anghel at [email protected].

About NMMA
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry in North America. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, please visit www.nmma.org or www.nmma.ca.