Recreational Boating's Impact On the U.S. Economy

Perspective can be tricky. For example, after you've finished reeling in a nice catch and you gear up to take the photo that you're sure will go viral, you realize the fish just isn't that big. Worried it might be your only catch of the day, you hold your arm forward, creating a new perspective. The fish looks larger next to your body, and the world knows you are a true angler.

Likewise, when you and your family are on the clear water and the sun is just starting to set, a feeling of peace and tranquility calms the spirit as you drift in the water. That perspective is also tricky, because below the surface is a nearly $41 billion industry powering jobs and opportunity throughout the country.

This week, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), together with the Congressional Boating Caucus – a bipartisan group of more than 100 U.S. Senators and Representatives – unveiled new analysis that captures the recreational boating industry's economic impact at the national, state, and congressional district levels during a briefing on Capitol Hill. And the numbers are staggering.

According to the report, the recreational boating industry generated $170.3 billion in economic activity in 2018, supporting more than 35,000 businesses and 691,000 American jobs across all 50 states. High consumer confidence, as well as industry innovation, are the driving forces behind the seventh year of consecutive growth for the industry, which is expected to continue in 2019.

These record numbers demonstrate the continued commitment of companies in the recreational boating industry to provide high-quality products that attract new buyers. Expanded participation in boating results in billions of dollars in economic impact and further reinforces the industry's role as an important pillar of the broader American economy.

Policy changes made during the last Congress – including passage of the Modern Fish Act and the America's Water Infrastructure Act – have also been integral in promoting a pro-business environment that has aided the global competitiveness of marine manufacturers and boosted the entire U.S. economy. The 116th Congress has come charging out of the gate to protect and expand outdoor recreation – with movement on legislation like the Natural Resources Management Act and the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act – proving that our industry's issues bring Democrats and Republicans together.

But among all this propulsion, however, it shouldn't be lost that we continue to face uncertain headwinds in the year ahead from trade tensions.

Ongoing trade and tariff wars are disrupting supply chains that are crucial to our industry, resulting in higher upstream production costs for manufacturers, and downstream, leading to more expensive products for consumers. Additionally, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. boats from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union have stifled the lion's share of our annual exports, causing manufacturers to freeze expansion plans and reevaluate employment levels. Since America's boating industry is exceptionally American – with over 95 percent of the boats sold in the U.S. made here – ripples from these trade actions are putting U.S. businesses and jobs in jeopardy.

With a new year ahead of us, I remain hopeful that the administration will move away from its tariffs-first approach and broker comprehensive trade deals sooner rather than later. We are encouraged by recent congressional actions to reassert the legislative branch's role in setting trade policy and look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure companies across the recreational boating industry can continue to flourish.

Boating represents an important American pastime, with more than 12 million registered boats and 141 million people participating in related activities annually. Equally critical is our industry's significant economic contributions that support thousands of U.S. businesses and jobs. And we urge policymakers to keep both top of mind as they weigh policy decisions.