Moorestown, June 1, 2022 – The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is proud to announce its endorsement of Bob Healey Jr., to represent the 3rd district of New Jersey in Congress.  As a businessman, like many of our local tackle shop owners, marina owners and individual members alike, RFA believes that Bob understands the challenges our industry faces and how regulations impact our ability to access marine resources.  Having a vested interest through a business that makes fishing boats, RFA knows that Bob is committed to the long-term sustainability of the nation’s fisheries and the businesses supported by them. 

The RFA was founded with the leadership of Bob Healey Sr in 1996 who had the vision and understanding that the recreational fishing industry needed a voice in DC and in the fisheries management process.  Bob has carried that same leadership serving as Chairman of the RFA.  RFA has always viewed fisheries as a non-partisan issue, one that requires an ability to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Martin Peters, Senior Manager of Communications at Yamaha and member of the RFA Board of Directors, “When we send Bob to Washington, he will take with him a passion for the hard-working people of his district; he will also take what few in Congress seem to have — a keen understanding of how things work in the real world and a relentless desire to ferret out facts before making decisions that affect lives and livelihoods. That’s what I like about Bob.”

“Too much of what happens in Washington is decided by elected officials who simply don’t understand, or don’t want to understand, the consequences of their actions.  Sending Bob to Washington will change that for the people of New Jersey’s 3^rd.”

The RFA is a national 501 (c)(4) grassroots organization representing individual saltwater anglers and the sportfishing industry. Our mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat, and tackle industry jobs and to ensure the long-term sustainability of U.S. saltwater fisheries. RFA has long contended that many of the management issues that unfairly impact recreational fishermen – like overfishing and mismanagement of marine resources – require a political and legislative solution. The saltwater fisheries of the United States provide a significant source of recreation, domestic seafood, employment and economic output to the Nation. 

According to NOAA Fisheries, recreational fishing generates $49.8 billion in retail sales, $125 billion in economic impacts, supports 800,000 jobs and generates $16 billion in federal and state taxes.  In the 3rd Congressional district of NJ, recreational boating produces a $403.1 million dollar economic impact, supports over 2,600 jobs and includes 272 marine-related businesses.   The combined contributions that recreational fishing and boating makes to the U.S. economy exceeds $200 billion in economic impact and supports over 1.2 million jobs.