NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer on Fox News: “The NOAA rule will devastate the marine industry”
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General Government Relations
On August 2, NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer joined Fox News to discuss the proposed NOAA vessel speed rule and the negative consequences the rule will inflict on American businesses, workers, and coastal economies if enacted.
“If this rule becomes law, it’s going to be devastating to the marine industry,” Hugelmeyer told Fox News reporter Douglas Kennedy.
Recreational boating generates $230 billion in economic impact and supports more than 812,000 jobs across the U.S. NMMA and the recreational boating industry have repeatedly called for the White House to withdraw the rule, and to instead use advanced marine technologies that exist today to more effectively protect the North Atlantic right whale without hurting American businesses, families, and coastal communities.
“It’s quite frustrating from a third generation boatbuilder…it feels as though you’re battling with the government when the technology is in place,” said Justin Healey of Viking Yachts, who was interviewed for the Fox News segment, which showed how Viking is working with other marine manufacturers on advanced marine technologies that can detect marine mammals and help lessen the risk of vessel strikes.
NMMA and its industry partners have repeatedly reached out to NOAA to show how advanced marine technologies can be used as an alternative management tool to protect the North Atlantic right whale.
As Hugelmeyer wrote in a June 28 op-ed in The Washington Post:
"If NOAA had reached out to us, they would have found that because we care so deeply about the North Atlantic right whale and all marine life, recreational boating technology already exists to help solve this conservation challenge. In fact, there is a taskforce of recreational boating industry representatives and marine technology experts that identifies, tests and deploys technology to lessen the risk of vessel strikes. In February, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) hosted the NOAA Fisheries’ assistant administrator at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show to see firsthand the advanced marine technologies available. In April, NMMA and our partners brought these technologies to Congress at our Marine Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill.”
