Press Releases

RBFF Launches Making Waves Initiative to Empower Women and Girls Out on the Water
Shattering the “Bass” Ceiling: the Future of Fishing is Female
Making Waves Print Ad
Making Waves Print Ad
“Despite this perceived lack of representation in the sport of fishing, 45% of last year’s new fishing participants were female, and that number continues to grow,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications for RBFF.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (May 14, 2018) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announces the launch of Making Waves, an initiative designed to empower women and girls to cast off labels and rock the boat - with fishing pole in hand. RBFF is committed to leading the industry by example and promoting women empowerment on the water by removing perceived barriers to the sport, increasing representation of women fishing and introducing a series of fishing workshops specifically designed for women and girls.

 

According to the annual Outdoor Recreation Study kids are more likely to go fishing with their mom – a direct contradiction of the idea that fishing is a boys club. Yet, The Special Report on Fishing revealed that only 19.3% of women and girls thought a fishing participant looks like them. As more girls take an interest in fishing, moms have a great opportunity to shatter the “bass ceiling” and set a powerful example for their kids.

 

“Despite this perceived lack of representation in the sport of fishing, 45% of last year’s new fishing participants were female, and that number continues to grow,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications for RBFF. “We are proud to be an industry leader in identifying and engaging with new markets to ensure the future of fishing and boating. With this campaign, we’re creating spaces for women out on the water. And we want this initiative to be the rallying cry for other industry organizations to join us.”

 

The Women Making Waves program is anchored by a creative campaign featuring female anglers casting lines, catching fish and captaining their own ships. More information about programming for women and other helpful resources can be found at www.takemefishing.com/makingwaves.

 

About RBFF

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation's aquatic natural resources. RBFF's 60 in 60 effort strives to attract 60 million anglers to the sport by the end of 2021. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns to create awareness about boating, fishing and conservation, and educate people about the benefits of participation. These campaigns help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. TakeMeFishing.org feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

For further information: For further information: Bruna Carincotte, bcarincotte@rbff.org, 703-519-6917