ABOUT US

Created in 1961, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) is a not-for-profit trade organization focused on the sound growth of the marine industry for the benefit of its members and their customers, local communities, and the environment. MIASF is comprised of more than 400 members in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS).

As the largest in-water boat show in the world, FLIBS provides an annual economic impact of $1.73 billion to the State, showcases about 1,300 vessels, and displays approximately $4 billion of product throughout seven show sites. Due to the size, scope, and popularity of the boat show, South Florida has become known as the yachting refit and repair capital of the world with a global reputation for excellence.

MIASF is the largest marine trade organization in the Southeast United States dedicated to protecting and growing 142,000 regional marine jobs, driving an annual economic output of $18.5 billion, and promoting boating lifestyles from family cruising and fishing to yachts and the goods and services that sustain them. Through its advocacy efforts, programs, services, and FLIBS, MIASF has raised the professionalism of the industry and created increased awareness of its economic impact to the public and elected and regulatory officials at the local, state, and federal levels.

Additionally, MIASF organizes the annual Broward County Waterway Cleanup, the county's largest and longest running environmental event typically held on the first Saturday in March. The first Waterway Cleanup was held in the late 1970s to help ensure that both the community and the marine industry could enjoy the local waterways. Now, more than a thousand volunteers of all ages work at locations all across the county to remove tons of trash and debris from our waterways, rivers, and canals.

In 1996, MIASF founded the Plywood Regatta, which honors the craft of boat building and the excitement of recreational boating to continue building boating's future with teams of middle school, high school, and marine technical school students who spend two days building sea-worthy vessels using simple hand-tools, three sheets of plywood, five tubes of 3M 5200 fast cure caulk, and 100 zip ties. The students compete in a series of heats to determine an event champion and all proceeds benefit South Florida's marine industry education programs and the Plywood Regatta Scholarship Fund for students who plan on a career in the marine industry.

MIASF is a founding member of the Marine Research Hub of South Florida, a non-profit Florida corporation and consortium created with eight founding members comprised of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Florida Atlantic University (Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute), Florida International University (Marine Sciences Program and Medina Aquarius Program), Nova Southeastern University (Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center and Halmos College of Natural Sciences), and the University of Miami (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science).