Personal Watercraft Impacts (Jet skis / jet craft)
	Environment Human Health Wildlife Safety Waterway Recreation
	Jet Ski Position Paper by Bluewater Network

Quotes, Charts and Pictures from:
Caught in the Wake (C), Jet Ski Position Paper (J), and Hostile Waters (H).

Caught in the Wake, The Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Personal Watercraft. 1999. Laurie Martin, Izaak Walton League of America. http://www.iwla.org/reports/pwc.html

Jet Ski Position Paper. Bluewater Network. April, 2002.
http://www.bluewaternetwork.org/campaign_pl_pwc.shtml

Hostile Waters, The Impacts of Personal Watercraft Use on Waterway Recreation.2002. David Jenkins, American Canoe Association. http://www.acanet.org/conserve-hostilewaters.htm

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“High-speed PWC use occurs near shore, next to docks, in shallow coves, narrow streams, small lakes, ponds, marshes, estuaries and even in whitewater rivers.” (H)

“ The shallow draft of PWC allow them to operate in as little as one foot of water.” (H)

“ Designed with a shallow draft, the craft are able to penetrate nesting areas and shallow waters where the most vulnerable aquatic life dwell.”(C)

“ The personal watercraft (PWC) industry is the fastest growing and most controversial segment of the boating industry.”(C)

“ The term personal watercraft (PWC) refers to a vessel that uses an inboard, internal combustion engine powering a water pump as its primary source of propulsion.”(C)

“ PWC’s are fundamentally different from conventional boats in terms of design, operation and use.”(C)

“Their shallow draft design allows PWC to be operated at high speeds in shallow areas close to shore, unlike other motorized boats.” (J)

“ They are high performance vehicles designed for speeds up to 70 mph and featuring maneuverability that allows users to perform stunt-like maneuvers.”(C)

“Highly maneuverable and capable of speeds exceeding 65 mph, PWC are marketed as “thrill vehicles.” (J)

“ The hull and engine design of PWC give them a unique ability to operate in shallow or confined areas where they are more likely to threaten the safety and enjoyment of other waterway users.” (H)

“ This is a major reason PWC inflict a far greater impact on activities such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking and camping than traditional motorboats.” (H)

“ PWC are singled out because their use is disproportionately responsible for more on-water accidents, more reports of near accidents, more claims of intentional harassment and more complaints of disturbance due to noise, air and water pollution than any other vessel type.” (H)

“ The high-speed operation, constant acceleration and engine revving that is typical of PWC operation also causes PWC to pollute more than other vessel types.” (H)

“ PWC use presents a unique and significant threat to wildlife.” (H)

“ The high decibel noise and spray associated with PWC use also have been found to disturb wildlife - most especially nesting birds - and recreationists such as canoeists and anglers.”(C)

“ This excessive noise often forces nesting birds to abandon eggs during crucial embryo development stages and reduces mating and feeding frequency, which is only exacerbated by PWC spray.”(C)

“ PWC’s emit 85 to 105 decibels (db) of sound per unit.”.............”the American Hospital recommends hearing protection for occasional sounds above 85db.”(C)

“ They have been found to have an adverse effect on the nation’s pristine natural areas because of the unparalleled level of air, water and noise pollution they emit.”(C)

“ According to EPA, the gasoline constituents emitted by PWC, into the water include MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), benzene (a known human carcinogen), toluene, zylene, and acetone/hexane.” (H)

“ PWC's contain one of the most highly polluting carbeureted engines that, until recently, remain unregulated.”(C)

“ PWC’s spill up to one-third of their fuel, unburned, into our nation’s waterways.” (C)

“ In a days use, PWC’s emit the same amount of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides as a 1998 passenger car driven 1000,000 miles.” (C)

“An average two-hour “thrill” ride on a PWC can dump between 3 and 4 gallons of gas and oil into the water.” (J)

Chart from
Caught In The Wake.