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Personal Watercraft
There are environmental issues that PWC operators need to consider as well:
- Pollution: Refuel on land to reduce chances of spillage into the water. Don’t overfill your fuel tank. Check and clean your engine well away from shorelines.
- Turbidity: In shallow waters where PWCs can easily operate, the bottom gets stirred up, suspending sediment. This cuts down on light penetration and depletes oxygen. This can affect bird and fish feeding. To avoid this, operate your PWC in deeper water. If you do have to traverse shallow water, run at idle speed.
- Vegetation: In coastal areas be aware of low tide. Low water levels expose sea grass beds and other delicate vegetation. Disturbances can cause erosion and long-lasting damage. As a side effect, ingesting seaweed and seagrass or other debris into the drive intake is not good for your engine and can create a hazard by restricting water flow. Feed it clean water and it will run and maneuver much better.
- Wildlife harassment: A PWC near shore can interrupt feeding and nesting wildlife, and cause animals to deviate from their normal behavior. And that, by law, is illegal. Mammals such as otters, manatees, and whales can be injured by direct contact with a boat, and it is believed that the noise from watercraft can even adversely influence breeding cycles and cause birth defects. So avoid areas of high animal populations.
- Speed Control: When close to shore always operate at a slow, idle speed.
Remember, our waterways belong to everybody!
If all boaters act responsibly and courteously, obey the rules, and protect the environment, our seas, lakes and rivers will provide all of us a lifetime of enjoyment and recreation.
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Boating Basics Glossary