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The NMMA recently awarded Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boat Group, the 2017 Hammond Marine Industry Leadership award for his tireless service on behalf of recreational boating and fishing, and as an advocate for conservation and responsible fishing. The Award was presented to Deal on May 16 during the 2017 American Boating Congress in Washington, D.C.

As President of Maverick Boat Group and a passionate life-long boater and angler, Deal has championed the conservation of America’s marine resources throughout his career. Through his involvement with countless conservation agencies and associations, he continuously spearheads a balance between conservation and recreational fishing.

Deal co-chaired the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, better known as the Morris-Deal Commission, a blue-ribbon panel of fisheries managers, conservationists, economists and policy makers that together developed a vision for how we can better manage America’s saltwater recreational fisheries. Along with his co-chair, Johnny Morris, Deal led America’s recreational fishing and boating community to call on federal fisheries law and policy makers to sustain and strengthen marine recreational fishing as Congress works toward reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservations and Management Act.

NMMA president Thom Dammrich says, “Scott tirelessly works to contribute to the benefit of the recreational boating industry and the saltwater fishing community. His leadership through the Morris-Deal Commission has painted the picture of a brighter future for the management of marine fisheries and fishing conservation. We applaud Scott for his contributions to the success of recreational boating and fishing, and for his leadership in advocating for conservation and the responsible use of our natural resources.”

The Hammond Marine Industry Leadership Award was created in honor of industry pioneer Bob Hammond, founder of Glastron Boats. The Award is presented annually during the American Boating Congress.