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Last month, NMMA attended the 62nd Annual Western Boating Administrators Association (WSBAA) Conference in Astoria, Oregon. Hosted by the Oregon State Marine Board and the WSBAA Board, boating administrators from across the Western United States came together to discuss state reports, Coast Guard updates, and boating law best practices. WSBAA, a subsect of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), serves as an opportunity for NMMA to connect with key regulatory agencies and boating law administrators out west.

Held at the Barbey Maritime Center, the conference featured a variety of guest speakers as well as an on-water boat tour and US Coast Guard helicopter demo. Discover Boating was a select giveaway sponsor during session breaks, where the audience answered questions about the host state, Oregon, and won Discover Boating swag.

At the annual awards banquet, wildlife officer Scott Murdoch of Colorado was awarded the Educator of the Year award for his work on the Basic Marine Operator Training across Colorado. Sergeant Nate Thompson was also recognized for his 20 years with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. Sergeant Thompson manages the marine patrol team and completed over 7,000 boater contacts during this year’s boating season.

During the conference, Guam’s Boating Law Administrator, Mark Torre, was voted the Association’s next President. Guam will be the host site of WSBAA 2025, with the territory’s Governor and Chief of Police penning support for the conference.

If you have any questions or are interested in scheduling a visit with Western territory members, state legislators or their respective staff members, please contact NMMA Western Policy and Engagement Manager, Rachel Fischer at [email protected].