WASHINGTON, July 17, 2019 – BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs Chris Edmonston has been elected chairman of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. Senior-level representatives from state and federal wildlife agencies, saltwater and freshwater fishing organizations, recreational boating groups, recreational boating and fishing industries, conservation organizations, tribal representatives and the tourism industry comprise the 18-member body. The council advises the U.S. Secretary of the Interior on recreational fishing, boating and aquatic resource conservation issues.
Edmonston and the council will work on items such as improving access to recreational activities on America’s waters, conserving fisheries and waterways, combating invasive species, and a wide array of other topics that impact boating and fishing.
Throughout the council’s 26-year history, its members’ advice and recommendations have played a vital role in helping the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shape its fisheries and boating programs that are funded by boater and angler tax dollars. This includes the recent funding of $20.6 million in Boating Infrastructure Grants for 56 projects in 35 states that will create and improve transient dockage facilities for recreational vessels 26 feet in length or greater, offering hundreds of new slips and improved amenities for visiting boaters to safely tie up for the afternoon or night.
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About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):
Celebrating more than 50 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than a half-million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We are The Boat Owners Auto Club and help ensure a roadside trailer breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins. When boats break down on the water, TowBoatUS brings them safely back to the launch ramp or dock, 24/7. The BoatUS Marine Insurance Program offers policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and superior service they need. We help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.