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Outdoor industry unified for Everglades restoration funding

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By on Conservation, Industry News

From Captains for Clean Water:

Outdoor industry joins Captains For Clean Water in submitting letter of request to Congress for $725 million allocated to Everglades restoration

Captains For Clean Water recently galvanized dozens of brands from the greater outdoor industry, signing on to a letter of request for $725 million in federal funding for FY2024 to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
Joined by brands from coast to coast, the letter of request was a joint effort with Captains’ partner, the Everglades Foundation, and was submitted to congressional Committees on Appropriations and Subcommittees on Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies on March 31, 2023.
CERP was authorized in 2000, as a 50/50 partnership between Washington and the State of Florida. As such, each federal dollar invested leverages at least a matching dollar by the state. This program is a national model for federal-state collaboration and good government as a fair and leveraged approach to spending of taxpayer resources.
As the largest ecosystem restoration project of its kind in the world, CERP will build the resiliency of both Florida’s ecology and economy. Restoring the Everglades ensures drinking water security for 9 million people, safeguards a massive carbon sink, and fortifies Florida’s clean-water driven economies by producing a 4:1 Return On Investment.

Expediting Everglades restoration is a critical investment because it will provide the most benefit to Florida’s communities, ecology, and the outdoor industry at large. Restoring our Everglades will ensure healthy coastlines, abundant fisheries, and it will fortify Florida’s clean-water based economy. This is everyone’s fight, nationwide, and it’s supported by brands from across the country.

-Jessica Pinksy, Policy Director, Captains For Clean Water

Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World, is fueled by the sportfishing industry, a $13.8 billion economic engine supporting almost 120,000 jobs. Florida also relies on its $33 billion outdoor recreation economy, driven by fishing, boating, hunting, and other outdoor pursuits, providing a robust impact on both jobs and GDP. Vital to all of that is the health of the greater Everglades system, whose connected waterways encompass most of south Florida.
Expedient completion of Everglades restoration projects relies on continued state and federal funding. Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-06, calling for $3.5 Billion in state funding over four years for Everglades restoration and the protection of Florida’s water resources.
CERP is expected to be completed in 2050 and costs a total of $23.2 billion in FY2020 dollars.

Everglades restoration is a bipartisan effort that unites stakeholders from all walks of life and corners of the world. These leading global brands coming together to support this funding ask is symbolic of the significance of saving this national treasure.

—Capt. Daniel Andrews, Executive Director, Captains For Clean Water

Captains’ outdoor industry partners from across the country who supported this effort by signing the official letter of request to Congress:
  • Hell’s Bay Boatworks – Titusville, FL
  • Costa Del Mar – Jupiter, FL
  • YETI Coolers – Austin, TX
  • American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) – Santa Ana, CA
  • Marsh Wear – Charleston, SC
  • Columbia Sportswear – Portland, OR
  • Orvis – Sunderland, VT
  • SIMMS Fishing – Bozeman, MT
  • Nautilus Fly Reels – Miami, FL
  • Shimano USA – Woodland, WA
  • Maverick Boat Group – Fort Pierce, FL
  • Bajio Sunglasses – New Smyrna Beach, FL
  • G. Loomis – Woodland, WA
  • Pure Fishing – Columbia, SC
  • Suzuki Marine – Tampa, FL
  • Johnson Outdoors – Racine, WI
  • Engel Coolers – Jupiter, FL
Captains For Clean Water is a Florida-based 501(c)3 grassroots nonprofit on a mission to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems for the use and enjoyment of all. Founded in 2016 by fishing guides, CFCW has united the outdoor industry, business community, and concerned citizens at the frontlines of the fight for clean water — the lifeblood of Florida’s economy and $85.9 billion tourism industry. Learn more at captainsforcleanwater.org or follow along on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.
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