This U.S. Coast Guard-sponsored, year-round National Safe Boating Campaign, is produced under a grant from the Aquatic Resources (Wallops-Breaux) Trust Fund.  Recognizing the need to promote safe boating practices, Congress requests the President of the United States to proclaim annually the seven day period prior to Memorial Day weekend (May 17 - 23 May 2008) to be known as "National Safe Boating Week" (NSBW).

NSBW is an annual media event symbolically launching the recreational boating season.  NSBW not only starts the traditional boating season, but also introduces a year-long media campaign to give boaters more safety information about their pastime.