Brunswick lauds marine industry efforts to shepherd Modern Fish Act into law

Globe Newswire 4-Jan-2019 8:07 AM

METTAWA, Ill., Jan. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) today added its voice in praise of marine companies and industry advocates to mark the enactment of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (Modern Fish Act), which President Trump signed into law on Dec. 31, 2018.

The Modern Fish Act recognizes, as a matter of federal law, the differences between recreational and commercial fishing and gives policymakers more appropriate tools for managing federal recreational fisheries. The law also makes those federally administered areas more accessible to the country's millions of saltwater anglers.

"This act becoming law is the culmination of years of hard work by so many to responsibly modernize recreational saltwater fisheries management," said Huw Bower, president of the Brunswick Boat Group.  "The work of the Center for Sportfishing Policy, the Center for Coastal Conservation and the coalition of eight other marine advocacy groups that were instrumental in securing this milestone legislation to improve recreational fishing is to be commended."

Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), the Modern Fish Act enjoyed solid bipartisan support from a long list of co-sponsors representing coastal and non-coastal states alike.  The Senate unanimously passed the Modern Fish Act (S. 1520) on Dec. 17, 2018, followed by overwhelming approval of the measure in the House (350-11) on Dec. 19, 2018.

America's 11 million saltwater anglers have a $63 billion economic impact annually on the U.S. economy, and generate 440,000 jobs, including thousands of manufacturing and supply jobs in non-coastal states. Furthermore, anglers and boaters contribute $1.3 billion annually through excise taxes and licensing fees, most of which goes toward conservation, boating safety and infrastructure, and habitat restoration.
  
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation's  leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers, and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land 'N' Sea, BLA, Payne's Marine, Kellogg Marine  & Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Brunswick Commercial and Government Products, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group  and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

Dan Kubera
Director – Media Relations and Corporate Communications
Email: daniel.kubera@brunswick.com
847-735-4617