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Coming out of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries oversight hearing on June 6, where NMMA President Frank Hugelmeyer and other marine industry stakeholders testified, national and local media continue to take note of the recreational boating industry's concerns with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s proposed changes to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The proposed changes would impose significant restrictions to boating and fishing along the Atlantic coast, putting boaters in danger and risking the $230 billion economic impact of the recreational boating industry.

On Friday, the Associated Press (AP) published an article highlighting representative Buddy Carter’s (R-GA) new bill to prohibit NOAA from implementing an expansion of the rule until other mitigation protocols are fully developed and deployed. The bill comes weeks after a similar bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. John Boozman (R-AR).

Excerpts from the AP story, which has been picked up by dozens of national and local media outlets, include:

• “U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican whose district includes Georgia’s 100-mile (160-kilometer) coast, introduced a bill Friday that would prohibit NOAA from spending federal dollars to implement the rule change until its parent agency, the Department of Commerce, develops and deploys new technology to monitor Atlantic waters for right whales.”
• “Carter said the enhanced slowdown rules would be restrictive enough to cause charter fishing boats to quit the business and to disrupt the efficiency of busy seaports like the Port of Savannah.”
• “Opponents said the restrictions would force fishing boats, harbor pilots and recreational vessels to slow down to speeds that are often unsafe in choppy seas or inclement weather.”
• Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, told lawmakers during the hearing, the rule change would endanger vessels and any people onboard by forcing them to move at “the speed of a bicycle.”

Click here to read the full Associated Press article

In addition, Fox News aired a story on Friday detailing industry concerns with NOAA’s proposed rule expansion to include all boats over 35 feet in length. The segment featured the voices of local small business owners on the East Coast whose businesses would be impacted by the proposed rule.

Click here to view the Fox News segment or view in the media player below

Recreational boating and fishing stakeholders are encouraged to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill, in district offices, and at the local level by contacting lawmakers and staff to discuss the impacts of NOAA’s proposed rule, as well as taking action on the Boating United platform.

For more information on NOAA’s proposed rule, contact Clay Crabtree, director of federal government relations at [email protected]. If you, or your business would be impacted by NOAA’s proposed rule and you are interested in speaking out, please contact Lauren Hyland, public affairs manager at [email protected].