Third Quarter Boat Sales Data Now Available

Third quarter boat sales data is in, and the numbers are strong. See for yourself at www.nmta.net > Member Services > Members Only > Boat Sales Data

Get familiar with DNR's Aquatic Lands Habitat Conservation Plan

Since releasing a draft Aquatic Lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in September 2014, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has received a significant number of questions and comments about the benefits it could provide the marine trade industry. 

In short, DNR is seeking an HCP to maintain the flexibility we currently have in managing over 5,000 use authorizations on state-owned aquatic lands while reducing Endangered Species Act risk for the state and its aquatic lessees. 

With so many diverse uses of state-owned aquatic lands, DNR faces risk to the authority that allows these productive partnerships because of the potential cumulative impacts posed to the aquatic habitat of endangered species.

DNR has seen firsthand the impacts endangered species can have on those who rely on Washington’s public lands for business. 
Listing of the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet under the Endangered Species Act had severe impacts on the management of nearly 700,000 acres of state managed forests and all private timberlands. Courts delayed harvests, limited the state’s management discretion and decreased revenue that use of public lands feeds into our public schools and other community institutions. Foresters, mills and local economies that had been tied to timber harvests also suffered as protection of endangered species habitat changed the business models of entire industries. 

When the Puget Sound Chinook salmon was listed as an endangered species in 2005 DNR’s Aquatics Division realized it would be in the state’s best interest to find a proactive solution to balancing environmental protection with good use of public lands. Since the initial work on the HCP began, the importance of this has become more apparent with the listing of other species that utilize aquatic lands including Puget Sound steelhead, green sturgeon and three rock fish species, among others.  

As a proprietary agency and not a regulator, DNR has the unique ability to help meet the needs of businesses who use state-owned lands while also acting as good stewards of aquatic habitat. 

That flexibility would be limited – or potentially lost – if the use authorizations DNR uses to conduct business are challenged under the Endangered Species Act. The Aquatic Lands HCP protects DNR from that liability. 

It provides Section 10 coverage for 29 species, and a “No Surprises” policy which eliminates further obligations for implementing conservation measures beyond those spelled out in the HCP. It also allows those looking to use state-owned aquatic lands a streamlined process for acquiring permits under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. 

By continuing to work together, DNR and its tenants can meet our mutual goals of being responsible stewards of public lands with the continued flexibility and predictability for marine trade businesses. Adoption of this aquatic lands HCP will provide us a long-term tool for ensuring the partnerships that have provided mutual benefits for decades past can continue for decades more with reduced Endangered Species Act liability. 

This article was provided by David Palazzi, Planning Program Manager for the DNR Aquatics Program

NMTA Dir. of Government Affairs Speaks at Busan International Boat Show

By now, you are well-versed in the presence of USSA around the United States. But wait, there’s more. USSA and our members extend well beyond our borders. We have a presence at the biggies like METS and Monaco, but we are looking at growing markets like Asia. 

That was exactly the motivation for my recent trip to Busan, South Korea to speak on behalf of the $6 billion Superyacht industry that is organized under the USSA brand. The trip-of-a-lifetime was a quick one (about three days and an 11-hour flight each way) but the connections with their influencers like the city’s mayor and governor, as well as their academics, will position us nicely as this market continues to emerge.

What was remarkable about this experience is that Busan and their boat show organizers reached out to USSA to speak about the large-boat segment and boating in general in the United States. Yes, we aspire to serve as that voice nationally and internationally but when Kitty fields calls like “Can USSA represent American boating at a prestigious event?” then you know that USSA has the momentum and notoriety in place that so many of us value. 

While it was a whirlwind experience, I had several key takeaways. First, according to the experts, there is a nice analogy between where our country was with wealth and our population after World War II. As Americans made more money, we bought nicer things (like boats!). That same pattern is now happening in South Korea. Second, I was struck by Busan’s modernity. Speaking with someone from the Gates Foundation, South Korea was doing things ten years ago that the world’s-largest foundation is just now adopting. Lastly, their spirit of hospitality and respect for elders was unlike anything I have ever seen. 

If given the opportunity to spend time in Korea, jump at it. They are eager to embrace our culture, our boats and our lifestyle.  

Sen. Cantwell comes to rescue on the Land and Water Conservation Fund

It was great to see Sen. Cantwell speak on the floor today about re-authorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This is the federal program that increases areas to boat. If you have three-minutes, take a listen to why she cares so much about this program that is vital to our state's $4 billion boating industry.


Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TIJXW6UXAE

Sadly, Congress kills vital sportfishing and boating program

It wasn't for lack of action by Washington state's Senators Cantwell and Murray, but the Land and Water Conservation Fund failed to get reauthorized before a critical deadline.




You may know this program from last month's Waterlife column (Link to article: http://www.nmta.net/news/waterlife.asp#legreport) . It's the one that started fifty-years ago and has left a legacy of recreation around Washington, the Great Pacific Northwest and the entire U.S. Here's last month's column about this fund that comes from the a small portion of the royalties our federal government collects from oil companies.




NMTA was part of a larger coalition that pushed and pulled for reauthorization. You can bet we will not stop working to get it back on the docket. In the meantime, take a look at how our friends at the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association reflect on this struggle here: http://tinyurl.com/p52kp2q

(Notice the quote and disappointment from Sen. Cantwell: “From Mount Rainier to the San Juan Islands to Colville National Forest, Washington’s great outdoors are important to our economy and our way of life – and the LWCF plays a critical role. I’ve championed this effort on a number of fronts, including a bipartisan effort to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the Energy Policy Modernization Act. And, I was joined by 29 Senators to introduce the American Energy Innovation Act that would permanently reauthorize LWCF and ensure it is fully funded. It’s time Congress stops playing politics with our public lands. I will continue to use every opportunity to reauthorize and fully fund this vital program.”)