About the Marine Industries Association of South Florida

In 1961, a small group of individuals in the marine industry came together to form an organization to represent and promote the marine industry in Broward County.  This organization was incorporated as the Marine Industries Association of Broward County in 1967, but the name was subsequently changed to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF).

Over the years, this not-for-profit trade association of marine-related businesses has grown to over 800 members in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. 

The MIASF is founder and owner of the largest boat show in the world, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and retains Yachting Promotions, Inc./Show Management to promote and manage the event which is held each fall at the following six locations: Bahia Mar Beach Resort and Marina, the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resort and Marina, the Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott, the Hall of Fame Marina and the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Marina.

The marine industry generates $10.8 billion annually in economic output and represents 134,000 jobs in Broward County alone.  An increasingly important segment of the marine industry in South Florida is the megayacht market.  An estimated 1,400 megayachts (vessels 80’ or longer) visit the region every year, each generating a half a million dollars in economic output.  The majority of these vessels visit South Florida boatyards with an average expenditure of more than $400,000 for repairs and service per visit.  With South Florida leading the state in sales of boats, motors and accessories, MIASF’s role in promoting and protecting the industry’s interests becomes vital to the continued prosperity of the industry.  MIASF’s Tallahassee representative Jack Skelding assists with our legislative endeavors at the state level and the MIASF keeps members informed of proposed legislation that might adversely affect or benefit the marine industry.

The MIASF has become well known in South Florida and in our State Capitol for its efforts to ensure that family boating continues to grow as a safe and enjoyable form of recreation through emphasis on boater education, boating safety and environmental stewardship.  The Association is a strong advocate for boater education and safe boating practices and was instrumental in passing Florida’s first Boater Education Bill.  The legislation provides that anyone born after September 30, 1980 must successfully complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administration (NASBLA) approved boater education course before operating a motorized vessel of more than 10-hp.  It was the MIASF’s intent that this Bill would ensure future generations of safe, educated and environmentally conscious boaters.

Each year MIASF publishes the popular Broward Safe Boating Guide.  Over 25,000 copies have been distributed annually at boat shows, marine retail outlets, fishing tournaments and other marine events, and by local marine law enforcement officers.

Implementation of the Marine Master Plan, participation in the development of the Boat Facility Siting component of the Broward County Manatee Protection Plan, and continuation of the effort to protect and improve access to Florida waters will occupy much of our attention on the local level in 2005. On the Federal level however, MIASF is continuing to work tirelessly to exempt the recreational marine industry from duplicative and unnecessary burden of the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

The MIASF has a history of being actively involved in the community.  Since 1977, the Association has conducted the Broward County Waterway Cleanup in the spring of each year.  The Waterway Cleanup is a volunteer grassroots effort involving many dedicated people working together to keep the waterways of the “Yachting Capital of the World” clean and raise awareness about environmental responsibility.  In 2005, 3,000 volunteers in boats and on land cleaned almost 62 tons of trash from Broward’s waterways in just one day.

MIASF is headquartered in the heart of the marine community in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Association’s nationwide “800” number serves as a Marine Information Hotline and referral service for both members and the national boating public. A wealth of information about our members, the South Florida marine industry and boating is also available on the MIASF website www.miasf.org.

Mission Statement

The MIASF is a not-for-profit leadership organization created to promote and protect the sound growth of the marine industry in South Florida for the benefit and education of its members, the community and the environment.