Tennessee Paddlesports AssociationGrowing, Protecting, Supporting Tennessee's Paddlesports Businesses |
To grow, protect and support Tennessee's paddlesports outfitting businesses by improving members' financial viability, ensuring a fair and reasonable regulatory environment and enhancing members' ease of doing business.
February 11, 2021 Legislation Authorizes Review of Funding Resources and Strategies to Improve Non Fish and Game Recreation Senator Kerry Roberts introduced SB 1080 to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 69 and Title 70, relative to recreational activities including the regulation of commercial paddlecraft rental businesses. The proposed legislation authorizes the Department of Economic and Community Development to review possible funding resources and develop strategies for improvements for non-fish and game recreational activities, in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Department of Environment and Conservation, and report its findings to the governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2022. The bill amends TCA Title 4; Title 69 and Title 70. Title ยง 69-9-227 deals with the law authorizing regulation of commercial operations that lease or rent nonmotorized vessels. Title 70 covers the authorities and funding sources of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Title 4 also covers broad state agency authorities. _________________ Good News About Paddlesports Contributions to Emotional, Physical and Economic Well-Being During the Pandemic Check out these op-eds by TPA Members. Ed McAlister in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Jason Carver in the Smithville Review. _____________________________ Know Before You Go Paddling for Safety Sake Since the Coronavirus pandemic led to shutdowns and restrictions on some leisure travel, the public has been flocking to the outdoors. Paddlecraft use of waterways has increased dramatically in 2020 with many self-guided paddlers using their own craft to visit the state’s rivers. Some paddlers do not have sufficient experience or are attempting to paddle rivers in high water conditions increasing the risks of a serious incident or water rescue. Safety data shows that paddlers are much less likely to be involved in a serious incident when they go with a professional outfitter, in part because outfitters do not operate when water conditions are too treacherous for inexperienced paddlers. When a customer rents a canoe, kayak or inflatable they also receive a briefing on potential hazards and are issued a Coast Guard approved life-jacket. The Tennessee Paddlesports Association (TPA) is offering a free set of briefing posters to the public in an effort to reduce the risks to inexperienced paddlers who venture out in their own canoe, kayak, paddleboard or inflatable. LifeJacket Poster General 2020.pdf TPA also urges paddlers to be considerate of other users and to avoid leaving their boats on ramps where they block access by other boaters. TPA has a set of Best Practices designed to diminish user conflicts. The Tennessee Paddlesports Association is a state-wide association of outfitters providing paddlecraft rental equipment, instruction, and other services on Tennessee waterways under permits issued by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
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