Resource Management Issues: Motorized Personal Watercraft

Introduction

Motorized Personal Watercraft (MPWC) are small, fast, and highly maneuverable craft that possess unconventionally high thrust capability and horsepower relative to their size and weight. This characteristic enables them to make sharp turns at high speeds and alter direction rapidly, while maintaining controlled stability. Their small size, shallow draft, instant thrust, and “quick reflex” enable them to operate closer to shore and in areas that would commonly pose a hazard to conventional craft operating at comparable speeds. Many can be launched across a beach area, without the need for a launch ramp. Most MPWC are designed to shed water, enabling an operator to roll or swamp the vessel without serious complications or interruption of vessel performance. The ability to shunt water from the load carrying area exempts applicable MPWC from Coast Guard safety rating standards for small boats. MPWC are often designed to accommodate sudden separation and quick remount by a rider. MPWC are not commonly equipped for night operation and have limited instrumentation and storage space compared to conventional vessels. MPWC propelled by a directional water jet pump do not commonly have a rudder and must attain a minimum speed threshold to achieve optimal maneuverability. Most models have no steerage when the jet is idle.

Assessments of MPWC impacts indicate that unrestricted access to all reaches of the MBNMS by such craft would pose an unacceptable threat to wildlife and other ocean users. MPWC commonly accelerate and decelerate repeatedly and unpredictably, and travel at rapid speeds directly toward shore, while motorboats generally slow down as they approach shore. Accordingly, disturbance impacts associated with MPWC tend to be locally concentrated, producing effects that are more geographically limited yet potentially more severe than motorboat use, due to repeated disruptions and an accumulation of impacts in a shorter period of time. To prevent the disturbance of wildlife and other nearshore users, most MPWC have been restricted in protected marine areas adjacent to, or overlapping the MBNMS (e.g. the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and nearshore areas of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, California State Parks, and the City of Santa Cruz). Current MBNMS management of MPWC is consistent with actions taken in these jurisdictions.

The majority of MPWC currently operated within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) are compact water jet-propelled craft that shed water from the passenger spaces. Larger size models are preferred in the high-energy ocean environment for increased power, range, and towing ability. Popular uses are operation within the surf zone, weaving in and out of wave lines, launching off the crest of waves and wakes, and towing surfers into large and/or remote wave breaks. MPWC are often operated in pairs or larger groups for camaraderie and improved safety.  Use of MPWC to tow surfers into large waves at Mavericks, a surf break off Pillar Point in San Mateo County, is a relatively new technique in surfing, allowing surfers to catch massive waves previously considered too large to catch. Use of MPWC for this purpose has increased dramatically during the past few years at Mavericks. Tow-in surfing activity has been increasing at many traditional surfing locations in the MBNMS, regardless of surf conditions. On days with moderate or low surf, MPWC provide ready access and improved flexibility for positioning surfers on wave breaks. On high surf days, MPWC provide access to areas normally considered too dangerous by paddle surfers. The MBNMS has received complaints by surfers, beachgoers, and coastal residents that the use of MPWC in traditional surfing areas has produced conflicts with other ocean users and caused disturbance of wildlife. During the designation of the MBNMS, the operation of MPWC in nearshore areas was identified as an activity that should be prohibited to avoid such impacts.

In order to facilitate MPWC use within the MBNMS, while protecting sensitive marine wildlife and habitats, the sanctuary has established several MPWC riding zones adjacent to the harbors at Monterey, Moss Landing, Santa Cruz, and Pillar Point. “Motorized personal watercraft”, as defined by sanctuary regulations, include such vessels as WaveRunners®, JetSkis®, small jet boats, hovercraft, air boats, and other small, high-speed vessels. To see the complete regulatory definition for MPWC, a map of the riding zones, and information about the conditional seasonal zone at Mavericks, click here.

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