We Don't Just Track Policy. We Help Shape It.
From Washington to the Statehouse, SCBFA works directly with the people making decisions about South Carolina's water, boats, and fish.
Representing You
From the Statehouse to Washington, SCBFA works directly with elected officials, agency leaders, and decision-makers on the issues affecting South Carolina's boating and fishing industry.
Get Involved
Grassroots wins pass bills. Join the alliance, show up at hearings, and add your business's voice when the industry needs to speak with one voice.
Stay Informed
Legislative monitoring, regulatory screening, and access alerts. We watch every bill and rule that touches the water so you don't have to.
Lower Boat Taxes
South Carolina boat owners paid the highest boat property tax in America: a 10.5% assessment ratio that ran 3–7x neighboring states and cost owners up to $2,800 a year. A dealer survey found more than 78% of boats over $120,000 were registered out of state to escape it.
SCBFA organized the response: bipartisan bills (H.3858 passed the House 89–7), a coalition of mayors from Columbia, Charleston, and Summerville, and years of Statehouse testimony. That work helped deliver the 2026 landmark boat property tax cut.
Red Snapper & State-Managed Fisheries
The red snapper population off South Carolina is the largest ever recorded, yet federal seasons shrank to one or two days a year. SCBFA championed S.219, signed in May 2025, giving South Carolina management authority over all 55 snapper-grouper species in state waters.
Now SCDNR has filed for a 60+ day state-managed season starting 2026, backed by the Governor, the Attorney General, and a bipartisan bloc of legislators. SCBFA founding chairman Chris Butler carried the industry's case to Congress: better data, longer seasons, and decisions made by people who know these waters.
Public Access & Boating Rights
Boating and fishing depend on access. SCBFA works to protect public access to South Carolina's waterways and make sure boaters and anglers are included in decisions that affect recreational fishing, boating, ramps, tournaments, and marine businesses.
That includes defending fishing tournaments, opposing overreaching federal rules like the proposed 10-knot right whale speed restriction, and keeping ramps and waterways open for the people who use them.
“Public access is not just a quality-of-life issue. It is the foundation of the conservation funding model in this country.”
Chris Butler, SCBFA Founding Chairman — testimony before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee, Jan 2026
Delivering Results for South Carolina
SCBFA was created to do more than talk about the importance of boating and fishing. We were created to get results.
Landmark Boat Property Tax Cut
South Carolina boat owners paid the highest boat property tax in America: a 10.5% assessment ratio, up to $2,800 a year, 3 to 7 times neighboring states. SCBFA led the fight to change that, helping advance the 2026 landmark tax cut.
State Control of Snapper-Grouper Fisheries
Gov. McMaster signed S.219, giving South Carolina management authority over all 55 snapper-grouper species in state waters. SCDNR has since filed for a 60+ day state-managed red snapper season starting 2026.
Marine Technology Institute of South Carolina
Supported the creation and launch of the Marine Technology Institute at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, which is already enrolling students in hands-on boat building, rigging, and marine systems.
A Seat at Every Table
From founding chairman Chris Butler's testimony before Congress to the Statehouse, SCBFA represents South Carolina's boating and fishing industry wherever decisions get made.
Legislative details cited from SCBFA reporting and bill records; final enacted forms verified before publication. Sources: SCBFA news archive, H.3858 / S.317 / S.219.
Add your voice to the alliance.
Every win above started with members who showed up. Join, donate, or sign up for legislative alerts.
Your Business Needs a Voice.
Decisions made at the Statehouse and in Washington touch nearly every part of this industry. When you join SCBFA, you join a statewide alliance working to protect your business and grow boating and fishing in South Carolina. We are all in this together.
Stay Connected
Get updates on boating and fishing issues, SCBFA news, member benefits, access alerts, workforce efforts, and policy developments affecting South Carolina's marine industry.