NASSAU, BAHAMAS- North America’s largest recreational‑boating trade group has put the Davis administration on notice that a sudden, “dramatic” jump in cruising and fishing permit fees—set to kick in on 1 July—could steer thousands of boaters and their wallets away from The Bahamas.
“These abrupt changes to access Bahamian waters will have an immediate and adverse impact on boating tourism to The Bahamas, including cancelled trips,” Frank Hugelmeyer, president and chief executive of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), wrote in a letter dated June 26th, 2025, addressed to Prime Minister Philip Davis.
The NMMA, which represents thousands of marine manufacturers and businesses and pegs the U.S. recreational‑boating sector at US $230 billion and 812,000 jobs, warned that the changes could disrupt long-standing patterns of cross-border tourism. Hugelmeyer said the increase in cruising permits—from $150 to $500 for boats under 35 feet, and from $300 to $1,000 for larger vessels—alongside the reduction in permit duration from 90 days to just 30 days, would likely lead to trip cancellations and a decline in visitation.
“Guides, anglers, and boaters will seek alternatives amidst uncertainty,” he wrote. “These shifts will have an adverse impact on Florida businesses as well, based on trip origination points.”
Florida, which boasts the largest slice of the U.S. boating economy at over $30 billion and the highest number of registered boats, is a key driver of maritime tourism to The Bahamas. “Day-trips and overnights to The Bahamas from Florida’s East Coast are popular excursions for boaters,” Hugelmeyer reminded Nassau.
The group also raised red flags about additional per-person surcharges, separate fishing permit fees, and new Automatic Identification System (AIS) requirements, calling for alignment with U.S. Coast Guard rules and a properly phased implementation.
“We are especially concerned that these changes were introduced without stakeholder input from the marine industry, tourism operators, and the international boating community,” Hugelmeyer added. “Sudden regulatory shifts risk undermining long-standing partnerships and could damage confidence in The Bahamas as a boater-friendly and welcoming destination.”
The NMMA is urging the Davis administration to reconsider the fee increases and instead launch a formal consultation process with industry stakeholders to find a balanced path forward.
