Last Chance: RSVP for Spring Member BBQ, May 10
Every member business in attendance will be entered to win free NMTA membership for a year

Please join us for our annual Spring Member BBQ. This is a great opportunity to meet our staff, network with your fellow members AND enter to win free NMTA membership for a year!

When: Thursday, May 10th. 4pm-7pm 
Where: SYC Clubhouse at Elliott Bay Marina 
What: BBQ! Beverages! Door prizes! 
Who: Current NMTA members AND prospects. We encourage you to bring a potential member to the BBQ. Staff will be on hand to make introductions and answer questions.

Please RSVP to Katie Groseclose at katie@nmta.net or 206-634-0911 to let us know that you'll be joining us.

Every member business in attendance at the Spring Member BBQ will be entered to win free NMTA membership for a year.

Plus now through May 11, don’t miss out on your chance to earn a free night stay at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Seattle plus a flightseeing tour from Kenmore Air! Our Spring Membership Promotion is going on now. Refer a new member to join NMTA during the Promotion and you plus the new member will receive the hotel and flightseeing prizes. Reel in a new member before May 11th to earn your prizes.

Contact Lisa Schofield for more information or to refer a member: lisa@nmta.net.

Return to top

NMTA Board Election underway
Ballots mailed May 4; Review candidate bios below

Six candidates are running for election to three open positions on the NMTA Board of Trustees. Each elected term last three years, beginning July 1, 2012. Ballots were be mailed on May 4 to all voting members. Completed ballots must be submitted to the NMTA office by 5 p.m. on June 1.

Click Here to review the Candidate Bios.

President's Report: Big Deal Auction a Big Success

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  This is for the auction committee, volunteers, donors, sponsors and 260 guests that made the first ever Seattle Boat Show BIG DEAL Auction to benefit the Clean Boating Foundation (CBF) and Fish Northwest (FNW) a huge success.  A year ago we first started discussing going “old school” to use an auction to raise funds for these two important non-profits.  Interestingly, every person I talked to that has been involved in an auction of any type said clearly – don’t do it, it’s too much work.  Yes, it was a lot of work but hats off to the auction committee and the NMTA staff for paying attention to all the details to execute a quality event.

In the end, we raised a little over $35,000 that will be split equally between the Clean Boating Foundation and Fish Northwest. In addition to the funds raised it was an evening of fun, celebration, education and recognition.

( CONTINUED )

Return to top

1st Quarter Boat Sales Data indicates encouraging start to 2012

New and used boat sales by dealers showed signs of growth during the first quarter of 2012, according to the latest report from the University of Washington Sea Grant program.

New boats sold by dealers were up by 48 units (+13.4 percent) and $1.9M (+12 percent) in value during the first quarter compared to the same period in 2011. The used boats sold by dealers category also saw increases, with units up 10 (+2.3 percent) and in dollars as well up $3.6M (+25 percent). The only category of boat sales that dropped during the period was the used boats sold by a private seller, down a whopping 336 units (-9.7 percent) and $4.3M (-25 percent).

A complete report of the 1st quarter sales data, including a breakdown of length, new and used, hull type and more is online in the Members Only section of the NMTA website and www.NMTA.net/MembersOnly.

Return to top

NMTA Legislative Report: Commitment to clean water goes back many years
- From the desk of Peter Schrappen, NMTA Director of Government Affairs

Instead of the more traditional update on government affairs, I’m hoping you will take a look at the second installment of our entry for Association of Washington Business’ Environmental Practices Award. You can see the update of legislative affairs here: http://www.nmta.net/govaffairs/govaffairs_current.asp.
THIS IS PART 2 OF 2 OF THIS ARTICLE. PART 1 OF 2 APPEARED IN THE APRIL EDITION OF WATERLIFE.

Additionally, some background on Department of Ecology’s General Boatyard Permit gives even more texture to the lay of the land and NMTA’s vision. As way of background, NMTA and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA) opposed the Boatyard Permit issued in 2005. We found the copper benchmarks unfair. They thought the numbers were too lax. We hired James Tupper and appealed the permit. They appealed it, too. After getting a ruling from the Hearings Board, NMTA’s next step was to take it to Superior Court. That’s what the conventional approach would have been and those watching the process predicted.

Never one for routine, NMTA took a different tact. In order to ensure success for the boatyards in Washington state, continuing to fight this pitched battle was not an attractive alternative. Spending more money that could potentially lead to an unrealistic permit was not something we wanted. Calling a “time out” in the process and sitting down with our opponents (PSA) at the Ruckelshaus Center, NMTA stressed the need for a new type of permit. Previously all of Department of Ecology’s permits were written without taking into account what technology could achieve. The new idea was to test what pollution prevention technology could achieve and then write the permit with that framework as the backbone. Laying out benchmarks without any context as to what was realistic has been an exercise in futility since the Clean Water Act was established. NMTA sought a new path.

PSA agreed that continuing to spend tens of thousands of dollars to appeal a permit was not the best use of their resources either. Conversations resulted in more dialogue, all the while the two groups came back to the central question: Why not write the permit to reflect current technology instead of one that has copper benchmarks that are impossible to attain?

From that starting point, NMTA, PSA and DOE invested $75,000 to conduct a pilot study to figure out what technology could achieve. This first-of-a-kind boatyard study became the backbone for the issuance of the Boatyard Permit, which took effect in July 1, 2011. For the first time since 2001 for any of DOE’s fifteen or so general Clean Water permits, this permit did not get appealed. That meant we had certainty for our boatyards with achievable benchmarks that satisfied the environmental community. Victory!

You can probably see the lag time between the permit that was issued in 2005 and the permit that took effect in 2011. This era of uncertainty included the appeals, the pilot study, PSA and NMTA facilitated conversations and DOE’s willingness to issue a permit based on best available technology. It also saw a change of leadership at NMTA and PSA that would have profound effects for both organizations.

Under a new leader, PSA altered their approach towards the boatyards. Specifically, PSA issued warning letters to all yards in the area, notifying them to continue adhering to the Boatyard Permit that carried over from the last adoption in 2005. PSA then took a controversial next step: through their attorney, they issued five intent-to-sue letters to NMTA-member boatyards in December 2010 for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.

The ramifications of this action caused significant stress on the partnership and led to a change in strategic direction by NMTA’s board. NMTA stayed true to the commitment to the environment by staying on PSA’s Clean Marina team but decided that other efforts to collaborate with PSA should be put on hold. In the end, the boatyards with the intent-to-sue letters all settled out of court (as is the standard course of action), costing them in aggregate close to $70,000 (with none of that money going to PSA).

Alas, the new draft Boatyard Permit that everyone had been awaiting was issued in March 2010 with benchmarks that current and viable commercial technology could achieve. That was a real step forward. The draft laid out difficult benchmarks (requiring boatyards to meet the benchmark of 149 parts per billion of copper per sample) but achievable (which we knew due to the pilot study).
Right along that same time, NMTA held a strategic planning session with a sharpened focus on taking the aspects of PSA’s litigious actions and using them as a real opportunity to move forward for NMTA businesses and the environment.  Simply put: protecting Puget Sound needed more leadership from NMTA. We had a responsibility as an environmental leader (since our businesses are based on a vibrant Sound) and we also had an innovative culture that fostered solutions at the edge. 

With the intent-to-sue letters in one hand, NMTA laid out a strategic plan to improve Puget Sound in the other with two key deliverables: launching a stand-alone non-profit to assist boatyards and champion legislation to phase out copper-bottom paint.

Outside the lens of the threat of lawsuits, NMTA agreed with scientists that there is considerable work on a variety of causes to Puget Sound’s demise. Before the Clean Boating Foundation, a missing piece to the Puget Sound’s restoration plan existed. That piece was the lack of attention boatyards and boaters play within Puget Sound’s ecosystem. More to the point, surface water and stormwater runoff are now recognized as the primary, unaddressed transporters of toxic, nutrient, and pathogen pollutants to surface and groundwater resources throughout the Puget Sound basin (Department of Ecology 2007).

NMTA saw a real opportunity to turn this need into a financial boon for businesses willing to take a leadership role to address Puget Sound’s pollutants. The non-profit idea became the Clean Boating Foundation in May 2011. Modeled on the Clean Marina Program, this new group would award a seal-of-approval to boatyards that took the extra steps to protect Puget Sound. Boaters could then vote with their pocketbooks when they need maintenance, giving boatyards with this seal a competitive advantage over their competitors.

The CBF program became the vehicle to move past the intent-to-sue letters. PSA served on the task force to develop the criteria along with a boatyard that received an intent-to-sue letter. Their new leader, who took over after the lawsuit actions were undertaken, had perfect attendance during the four month vetting process.

NMTA keeps close tabs on CBF. We donated exhibitor Boat Show space to CBF. NMTA has provided considerable start-up dollars to get this non-profit rolling and NMTA leaders continue to serve on CBF’s board. With the input of DOE and PSA on the task force, we have the needed credibility for the program to ensure that this approach is tough yet fair.

In CBF’s first year, great strides have been made to lead businesses to a more profitable future. Not only has the criteria for the program been completed, but also the first boatyards have been certified (including Seaview). You can read more about this accomplishment at the end of this narrative.

NMTA did not stop there. Having seen the studies that indicate the negative role copper plays with juvenile salmon within Puget Sound,  NMTA undertook a bold step to go beyond regulation to address this pollutant at the source (the paint in the can and on recreational boat bottoms) and not at the end of the pipe (at the boartyard). While boats with copper on their bottom have no regulations, once the boat is hoisted up and in a boatyard, the stormwater runoff off of boatyards cannot exceed 149 parts per billion. It’s important to note that boatyards are responsible for treating the water that comes off of their property as well as water that flows over their property from adjacent parcels. NMTA saw this as an unfair proposition.

Given the ever-changing nature of viable paint technology and the importance of the Puget Sound’s Action Agenda for 2020, NMTA put forward Senate Bill 5436 to phase-out copper paint for recreational boats over a series of years. It’s important to note AWB’s support and involvement of this move. Put another way, we championed legislation to phase-out a critical piece of our industry to both provide a path for boatyards to succeed in the future and address a pollutant negatively affecting Puget Sound and juvenile salmon. Leadership is never easy. On April 18, 2011, Governor Gregoire signed this landmark law with the needed safeguard that if non-copper paint is not commercially available then this bill would not take effect on the first series of deadlines (January 1, 2018). Immediately after she added her signature, Governor Gregoire handed NMTA the ceremonial signing pen as a keepsake.

All the while this action plan was implemented, PSA made overtures to appeal the 2010 draft Boatyard Permit. Ultimately, they accepted the permit as drafted, making it the first general permit issued by DOE since 2001 to not get appealed. NMTA succeeded in providing a backdrop of action to give boatyards certainty with a five-year permit that had achievable benchmarks. All this occurred by exceeding what was expected in the regulatory framework at a macro-level (with the non-copper legislation; Ruckelshaus conversation and creation of the Clean Boating Foundation) and a micro-level (with rewarding boatyards with the certified seal). 

To give you a sense as to how the press are covering NMTA, our relationship with PSA and CBF, Three Sheets NW recently wrote an article, which you can find here:  http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2012/02/first-group-of-boatyards-deemed-clean-under-new-program/

First group of boatyards deemed ‘clean’ under new program (Feb 1 2012)

Four Washington boatyards recently became the first to be certified under a new program that aims to help protect Puget Sound from water-borne pollutants. Cap Sante Marine in Anacortes, Seaview and Canal boatyards in Seattle and Swantown Marina and Boatworks in Olympia were certified as “clean” under the new Certified Boatyard Program, run by the year-old Clean Boating Foundation. The designation verifies that the yards have implemented specific practices to reduce the level of copper, zinc and other pollutants flowing into the Sound.

The program’s goal is to help boatyards comply with Washington’s Boatyard General Permit, which aims to control pollutants in wastewater and stormwater runoff from boatyards, and to promote yards that go above and beyond the permit requirements.

The certification of the four boatyards follows a year-long process that started with putting together a foundation board of NMTA staffers, boatyard owners and representatives from environmental groups. With input from the state Department of Ecology, which oversees the Boatyard General Permit, the board developed a checklist of certification criteria.

Relations between the NMTA and PSA were strained after the environmental group threatened in December 2009 to sue five Seattle-area boatyards over alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The boatyards settled out of court with PSA to avoid costlier litigation, and the action sparked widespread anger and resentment among the Northwest marine community.
Schrappen said having PSA at the table has helped heal the relationship between the two organizations.“Leaving all the baggage outside and talking about what we can to together to save Puget Sound has been a really rewarding experience,” Schrappen said.

Most items on the certification checklist are required by law under the boatyard permit — for example, regularly sampling stormwater runoff for pollutants and reporting the results to the Department of Ecology. Boatyards can earn extra points by meeting optional items on the list.

Over the past few months, Schrappen and Clean Boating Foundation staffer Ben Lee, who manages the boatyard program, have reached out to the 69 Washington boatyards covered under the boatyard permit to tell them about the program and solicit feedback. They have held workshops and gone out to yards to help walk them through the checklist.

Boatyards certified under the program will be promoted by the NMTA and on the program’s website. Lee sees certification as a valuable marketing tool to help attract environmentally conscious boaters looking to make informed choices about which yards they use.

Return to top

Anglers win in latest round of salmon season setting process

The 2012 salmon seasons have been agreed upon by the feds, tribes and state earlier last month and, compared to most years, the announcement did not receive the attention many think it deserves.

NMTA’s Director of Fishing Affairs Tony Floor said this season will be one of the best in recent memory. “I have been following these announcements for the last 30 years, playing inside and outside of the process,” Floor said. “The package approved a few weeks ago is about as good as I can recall during the last three decades. This is the year, to call friends and family out of state and say, better come salmon fishing in Washington this summer!”

The new fishing regulations, taking effect May 1 and lasting one year, features the four ocean ports opening during the second week of June for hatchery produced, adipose fin-clipped chinook. Anglers can keep two per day, seven days a week during this selective fishery. In late June, the selective fishery for hatchery chinook is removed, and the daily limit shifts to two salmon per day, but only one can be a chinook salmon. This early start (the four ocean ports , Neah Bay, La Push, Westport and Ilwaco) is based on a huge return of chinook salmon, around two-thirds of a million, bound for the Columbia River. Floor predicts chinook fishing should be good from mid-June into mid-July, especially in ocean waters off Westport during mid-late July. “I am comfortable in saying it will be awesome,” he said.

Once this unusually large chinook salmon run clears ocean waters, the fish begin migrating into the lower Columbia River in mid-August. During a two week period, from mid-August through the end of the month, in what anglers refer to as the Buoy 10 fishery, it will offer some of the best salmon fishing imaginable.

From Buoy 10, salmon anglers should think about fishing in the Willapa Bay fishery, around Tokeland as 45,000 king salmon will be entering this coastal esturary, bound for three salmon hatcheries in the Bay. Floor said this shallow water king salmon fishery, where anglers can hook big king salmon in 20 feet of water on incoming tides, has been growing in popularity. “Traditionally, Willapa Bay has a king salmon run of around 30,000 fish,” he said. “This year, similar to the Columbia River’s strong run of kings, Willapa Bay should light up like sunrise during the last week of August. To hook and land a big king salmon, on light fishing tackle in shallow water is an amazing experience. When waiting for a bite, when it happens, it’s not a bite, it’s a crush!”

As Willapa Bay’s strong run of chinook and coho salmon begin to ebb in early September, Grays Harbor will open, on September 16th. This fishery, is very similar to Willapa Bay where fishing techniques are trolling near the bottom, with a plug-cut herring, in depths of around 20-25 feet. For the first time in five years, Floor said, Grays Harbor will be open for the retention of one king salmon per day, as part of a three salmon limit from the opener through the first week of October.

“Grays Harbor is one of my favorite fisheries in Washington,” Floor said. “The waters are protected and the salmon predictably bite around the high slack. Not only is it exciting to have the opportunity to keep one king per day, the coho salmon run of nearly 200,000 is an incredible bonus.”

Floor said the Puget Sound hatchery chinook run should be good at around a quarter million fish. Selective fisheries for these fish begin in mid-July from the northern tip of Vashon Island to Pt. Wilson, Port Townsend.  It’s a great “stacation” option for anglers wanting to stay close to home during the summer. The Puget Sound coho run should be status quo offering great excuses to be on the water in September.

“These are the good ‘ol days,” Floor said. “Looking back in time, year for year, this season’s summer fishing options are wonderful, thanks to La Nina which increases ocean and freshwater survival rates. These are tough times for a lot of businesses, and uniquely, anglers are finding ways to prioritize their budgets to get on the water. I can’t imagine a better salmon season package, state wide and I am committed to hit it as hard as this old body can take. When my time comes,” he said, “I can’t imagine anyone saying… he should have gone fishing more.”

All of the new fishing rules for 2012 are published in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing regulation pamphlet available at most sporting goods stores.

Return to top

NMTA seeking new Boat Show Director

Return to top

Tony's Tackle Box - May 2012
- From the desk of Tony Floor, NMTA Director of Fishing Affairs

He’s known as the third Senator from Washington and he has served in Congress for nearly 36 years. On March 3rd, headlines announced, all over the state that Congressman Norm Dicks is not running for re-election.

Wait a minute. Isn’t this a fishing column? That’s my point. Yes, it is a fishing column and through this writing, I would like to give credit where credit is due, to a man who has lead the way to pioneer salmon management into a new era.

Earning a nickname such as Mr. Salmon, and having more people with you than against you is a considerable feat. Whether you come at this issue as a conservationist, a commercial fisher, environmentalist, tribal or sport, rarely, do each of these groups drink the same cool-aid and often fight each other at levels comparable to the Hatfields and McCoys.

(Continue reading on the monthly Tony's Tackle Box blog)

Return to top

ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE...
Want to advertise to 700 NMTA members?
Want to increase your exposure in the marine industry?

The Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) is the oldest and largest regional boating trade organization in the nation, representing the interests of approximately 700 member companies.

Water Life is the quarterly printed member newsletter, and digital monthly e-newsletter with a circulation of 1,000. The newsletter contains timely information for NMTA members on association news and events, industry data and reports. Target professionals in the Pacific Northwest’s boating industry through advertising in Water Life.

SPECIFICATIONS
All ads must be delivered electronically by the 15th of each month in the following format: PDF, JPG or TIF. There is a $20 design fee if your ad needs to be created or altered by NMTA staff. All ad space is black & white.

Inserts: Delivery of 1,100 copies of any insert must be delivered on the 15th of each month. We do not accept digital copies. Color paper is accepted. Inserted fliers should be created on a laser printer or professionally printed. Ink jet is not accepted. Postal regulation require that no mailing permits are allowed on your insert.

To reserve your Ad Space or for questions, Contact John Thorburn at (206) 634-0911 or john@nmta.net.

ADVERTISING RATES:

Insert page, 8.5” x 11” MEMBER RATE: $350 NON-MEMBER RATE: $400
Full Page, 7.5” x 9.5” MEMBER RATE: $250 NON-MEMBER RATE: $300
1/2 Vertical Page, 3.65” x 9.5” MEMBER RATE: $140 NON-MEMBER RATE: $190
1/2 Horizontal Page, 7.5” x 4.75” MEMBER RATE: $140 NON-MEMBER RATE: $190
1/4 Vertical Page, 3.65 x 4.75” MEMBER RATE: $75 NON-MEMBER RATE: $125
1/4 Horizontal Page, 7.5” x 2.38” MEMBER RATE: $75 NON-MEMBER RATE: $125
1/8 Page, 3.65” x 2.38” MEMBER RATE: $40 NON-MEMBER RATE: $90

NOTE: Receive a 10% discount when you reserve ad space for 3 issues or more!

Return to top