Pictured left to right, NMMA’ s Jeff Wasil and Suzuki Marine’ s Gus Blakely attend an event supporting the expansion of access to strategic maritime fuel for recreational boaters in the Florida panhandle at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City in July 2024.
the industry are rising to the moment, working to ensure boating remains accessible, sustainable, and resilient for the next generation.
Recreational boating in the U. S. generates $ 230 billion annually, supports more than 36,000 businesses, and builds 95 % of boats sold in the U. S. right here at home. As we look to the future, it’ s clear that boating is evolving – driven by new technologies, shifting market dynamics, and a complex global landscape.
In my role with the National Marine Manufacturers Association( NMMA), I see firsthand how manufacturers, dealers, and partners across
Innovation, environmental stewardship and self-regulation
For more than 20 years, NMMA has helped the global recreational boating industry create a better boating experience that reduces its environmental footprint. And since 2000, marine engine emissions have dropped by more than 90 %. Though recreational boats account for less than 0.01 % of global emissions, NMMA recognizes the need to go the extra mile to make boating more sustainable.
That’ s why the International Council of Marine Industry Associations( ICO- MIA) and NMMA launched Propelling Our Future, a global initiative to provide guidance and resources to policymakers and industry leaders that will further improve the environmental performance of the recreational boating sector.
This included first-of-its-kind, independent research – Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry – commissioned by ICOMIA with leading global engineering consulting firm Ricardo plc to better understand how to further reduce emissions and provide guidance to global governments as they work together to shape investments in technology and policy. The core finding is clear: there is no one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonize the industry.
16 July / august 2025 www. boatingindustry. com