Nasbla will offer nine courses to train 465 marine law enforcement officers in boating incident investigation and GPS forensics

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $340,000 cooperative agreement to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Inc. (NASBLA) under the National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program (CFDA 97.135) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. NASBLA will develop and deliver nine specialized training courses nationwide to educate approximately 465 marine law enforcement officers in boating incident investigation techniques and GPS forensics methodology. The program directly supports the Coast Guard's recreational boating safety mission by enhancing the quality and consistency of data collected through the Boating Accident Report Database (BARD), a critical national repository for recreational boating incident information.

The award encompasses curriculum development, updated training materials, and an e-learning module to ensure equitable access to GPS forensics and incident investigation instruction across all states. By strengthening officers' capacity to collect accurate GPS data during investigations, this cooperative agreement improves the integrity of national boating safety data and enhances investigative capabilities for law enforcement agencies responsible for recreational boating safety oversight.

The program will strengthen the boating accident report database (bard) by teaching officers to collect accurate GPS data during investigations. Updated materials, an e-learning module, and equitable access across states will enhance data integrity and investigative capacity.