Surprise No. 1: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one of our nation’s largest federal outdoor recreation providers, managing nearly 257,000 facilities across 43 states in which visitors enjoy boating and fishing, among other activities.
Surprise No. 2: Unlike at National Parks and U.S. Forest Service sites, local Corps of Engineers site managers cannot retain revenue from fees collected on-site. Any fees collected at a given site are not certain to support the operations and maintenance of that site. That needs to change.
Surprise No. 3: A bill called the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong Act, or LAKES Act, has
been introduced in Congress to correct this shortcoming. The LAKES Act would allow the Corps of Engineers to retain 80% of the recreation fees collected on-site and includes other benefits that should improve access to boating and fishing, including infrastructure such as boat ramps and complementary facilities.
Thousands of dealer customers are directly benefitting from Corps of Engineers facilities and deserve to see the major portion of related fees used to improve and enhance those boating opportunities. It’s important that dealers and their customers make members of Congress — senators and representatives — aware that you want them to support the LAKES Act.
Miami Opens Wednesday
The industry’s winter shows continue to draw thousands around the country, with two large events opening this week.
The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show — billed as the largest boat and yacht show in the world — opens tomorrow and runs for five days. Sponsored by Progressive, the show is expected to draw some 100,000 visitors to check out more than 1,000 boats and other products in five locations in Miami and Miami Beach.
The on-land portion of the show takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center and adjacent Pride Park. The in-water component is at Venetian Marina, Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marina and Yacht Haven Grande. The show covers it all, from kayaks to superyachts.
The Miami show is owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association in partnership with the International Yacht Brokers Association, and is produced by Informa Markets.
New Jersey Expo Kicks Off Thursday
The New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo will cruise back into the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Brielle Feb. 15-18. Now in its 13th year, this show will boast a fleet of more than 250 boats.
The show is presented by Travelers Ocean Marine Insurance, and is produced annually by the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey.
“It’s has become a family escape from winter event as much as a display of the latest boats and a wide variety of marine accessory and service exhibits,” says Melissa Danko, MTA/NJ executive director. “We also design our show so that every family member will find things to do and enjoy.”
Show features include a variety of informative and entertaining seminars, including “Fishing for Doormat Fluke,” “Jumbo Striped Bass,” “Blackfish Tactics” and “Bluefin Tuna.” For the kids, there will be a nautical version of the “I Spy Scavenger Hunt.” Little skippers who successfully complete their sheet of clues can visit the New Jersey Sea Grant Exhibit to create and take home a science craft.
