The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the…

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission $12,054,713 in formula grant funding under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012) effective October 1, 2025.

The funds support recreational boating safety activities including boating safety education and public outreach, training for boating safety personnel and law enforcement officers, purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment for boating safety education and enforcement, boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations, emergency and search-and-rescue facilities and services, acquisition and construction of public access sites for recreational boaters, waterway markers and navigation aids, and state vessel numbering and titling programs. Performance occurs in Florida with a period of performance through September 30, 2028.

The program aims to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts while permitting states to assume a larger share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities. Award funds may be used for any of the enumerated boating safety expenses.

The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities. Federal funds provided for a state's boating safety program may be used for any of the following expenses. 1. Providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement, including purchase, operation, maintenance, and repair. 2. Training personnel in skills related to boating safety and to the enforcement of boating safety laws and regulations. 3. Providing public boating safety education, including educational programs and lectures, to the boating community and the public school system. 4. Acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters. 5. Conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations. 6. Establishing and maintaining emergency or search and rescue facilities, and providing emergency or search and rescue assistance. 7. Establishing and maintaining waterway markers and other appropriate aids to navigation. 8. Providing state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.