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On June 4, NMMA members Yamaha Marine and Navico Group participated in a panel sponsored by Yamaha and Viking Marine Group titled "Emerging Ocean Economies: Innovation Driving Conservation Outcomes" at Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) 2025 in Washington, D.C.

The panel, facilitated by Holly Bamford, Ph.D., Chief Conservation Officer of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, highlighted technology initiatives driven by the recreational boating industry, including the Whale and Vessel Safety (WAVS) Taskforce. The WAVS Taskforce comprises diverse stakeholders that work to enhance marine ecosystems' sustainability through innovative technology, such as real-time data collection, artificial intelligence-enabled computer vision monitoring systems, and predictive modeling.

The panel is one of many examples of the marine manufacturing industry showcasing the benefits of what can happen when commerce and conservation coexist. At the 2025 American Boating Congress, NMMA and industry partners hosted a live demonstration of next-generation marine technologies at Washington Marina as part of the Propelling Our Future initiative aimed at educating industry stakeholders on the innovations shaping a more sustainable recreational marine industry. The showcase featured advanced marine technology systems, sustainable marine fuels, and cutting-edge propulsion systems, underscoring the sector’s commitment to conservation, environmental progress, and innovation.

Last spring, NMMA and industry partners hosted a Marine Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill to spotlight existing and emerging tools designed to protect marine life and boaters while on the water. NMMA and its members have long championed innovative approaches that enhance conservation outcomes without undermining safe navigation, boating access, or the livelihoods of coastal communities. The 2024 Spring showcase followed an educational visit by NOAA leadership to the 2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show to hear from recreational marine manufacturers and to see first-hand the technological advancements developed and deployed by the industry.

The CHOW panel helped put a spotlight on how the recreational boating industry’s innovation is driving tangible progress—balancing environmental stewardship with economic opportunity and helping to grow the blue economy for generations to come.

NMMA thanks Yamaha Marine, Navico Group, and Viking Marine Group for their engagement in this important event as our industry collaborates to advance sustainability and tackle some of the most pressing conservation challenges.

[Photo L to R: moderator Holly?Bamford, Chief Conservation Officer, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; panelists Joshua Grier, Sustainability Program Manager, Yamaha Marine; Eliot Horowitz, Founder & CEO, Viam; Áine Denari, EVP and President, Navico Group & Chief Technology Officer, Brunswick Boat Group; Dr. Taylor Shropshire, Head of Marine Resiliency, Fathom Science]