RECREATIONAL BOATING AND FISHING

Stakeholder engagementthis was the second year rbff implemented its strategic plan to consolidate stakeholder strengths, ideas, and enthusiasm to achieve common objectives. This approach led to new efficiencies and created opportunities for state, industry, and federal agency partners to collaborate on increasing participation and retention in fishing and boating. Whether targeting multicultural markets, active women, or lapsed boaters, rbff stakeholders discovered innovative ways to recruit, retain, and reactivate participants.see schedule ostakeholder engagement (cont'd)rbff's multicultural outreach included the first catch centers, which bring fishing to urban communities. This year, 38 mobile first catch centers were deployed to 31 states. Additionally, the george h.w. Bush vamos a pescar education fund grants continued to bridge the gap between hispanic families and outdoor activities, supported by contributions from bass pro shops and matched by state agencies.the 2025 special report on fishing, produced with the outdoor foundation, revealed key participation figures, serving as a baseline for evaluating rbff's consumer campaigns and collaborations. The fy25 state marketing workshop in baltimore gathered nearly 150 attendees from 48 states and the district of columbia, supported by more sponsors than ever. The workshop featured an expo for states to showcase their marketing programs and best practices. Rbff introduced new digital tools and strategies, including artificial intelligence, social media engagement, and influencer collaboration, to help states reach diverse audiences. Insights from the workshop were shared through a video series, making the content accessible to r3 marketing professionals who couldn't attend in person. Additionally, rbff hosted webinars on the find your best self campaign, fishbrain (one of the world's largest online fishing communities), and embeddable digital resources for stakeholders' websites.