The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has become The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida's newest conservation partner and will help bring attention to the importance of protecting Florida's natural resources, particularly its waterways.
“Florida is one of our nation's premier boating destinations, as boating is a natural part of everyday life throughout the state,” said Thom Dammrich, president of NMMA. “As part of that legacy, Florida generates more than $2.3 billion in annual retail sales of new boats, engines and marine accessories while employing an estimated 55,000 people across the state. With how critical boating is to Florida and vice versa, it's important for us to always be seeking ways to protect its waterways and ensure boaters and anglers can enjoy them for generations to come.”
As part of the partnership, NMMA will host the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida's booth at one of the largest boat shows in the world ̶ Miami International Boat Show ̶ Feb. 11-15, at its new home: Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin. At the boat show, the Foundation will showcase the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) popular Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, and the Foundation's “I DO” campaign encouraging Florida anglers to buy a fishing license.
Foundation staff will be on hand to provide boat show attendees information on the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network and how they engage youth in responsible use of our waterways as well as insights on how fishing license sales are reinvested to help fund fishing conservation and water access throughout Florida. What's more, the Foundation will offer fishing licenses for purchase to boat show attendees onsite, providing a convenient and important resource for fishing enthusiasts.
“We are proud to be a conservation partner of the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and are honored to help support their mission in Florida and host them at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show,” Dammrich said. “In particular, we support the Foundation's “I DO” campaign and its efforts to increase fishing license sales and grow FWC's fishing and conservation camps for kids across the state, which helps create future environmentally-conscious boaters and anglers while giving kids an opportunity to experience Florida's waters firsthand. FWC's intensive five-day fish camp format is a proven winner for youth engagement and the Foundation's “I DO” campaign is vital to ensuring Florida anglers have access to fishing now and in the future.”
Foundation Chairman Rodney Barreto said, “We are so pleased to partner with NMMA, especially as it launches the new location for the world-class Miami International Boat Show, a critical event for Florida that generates $597 million in economic activity for the state each year. We thank NMMA for its leadership, its work within the outdoor community as a visionary leader, its contribution to the conservation community and its work helping to protect our nation's waterways and its boaters.”
“We ask the entire marine industry and anglers everywhere to join us at the Miami International Boat Show Feb. 11-15 to learn about buying a fishing license, our Fish and Conservation Camps for youth around the state, and to help us create the next generation that cares and respectfully enjoys our waterways while enjoying one of the greatest boat shows in the world,” Barreto said.
National Marine Manufacturers Association 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.
