Personal Watercraft Industry Association Statement on the Final Rule Published for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
November 25, 2008 Jennifer Hall, 202-777-3503
PWIA@clsdc.com
Personal Watercraft Industry Association Statement on the Final Rule Published for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
WASHINGTON – The following statement can be attributed to Maureen Healey, executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association:
"The great news that Mavericks was added as a new, fifth personal watercraft zone is unfortunately spoiled by the fact that marine sanctuary managers in Central California have, without site-specific science, arbitrarily changed the definition of a personal watercraft to now include boats enjoyed by thousands of families.
"According to NOAA, any motorized craft up to 20 feet in length with jet propulsion is now prohibited from sanctuary waters, with the exception of five designated zones. Because of this misguided rule, many families who own boats in Central California have been punished without cause and now have no place to go boating.
"This new definition of a PWC was implemented despite overwhelming opposition at a series of six public hearings and from local and state governments, and without the recommendation from NOAA’s own Sanctuary Advisory Council. This new PWC rule is the product of the parochial opinions and points of view of a few managers rather than facts and science. This type of unilateral decision making should have no place in our government. In fact, California’s state boating law agency opposed this rule when it was originally proposed by NOAA.
"Modern personal watercraft have evolved into some of the most environmentally friendly motorized boats on the water. In the last decade, emissions have been reduced by up to 90 percent and sound has been reduced by 70 percent. PWC comply with all applicable state and federal emissions and sound requirements. They are boats that should be allowed where other forms of motorized boating is permitted. If individual users are a problem, they should be punished on an individual basis. It’s never good public policy to ban an entire class of vessels because of a few individual boaters. The impact is simply unacceptable and too far reaching."
About PWIA
PWIA represents the four manufacturers of personal watercraft: American Honda Motor Company (makers of AquaTrax®), BRP US, Inc. (makers of Sea-Doo®), Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (makers of JET SKI®) and Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. (makers of WaveRunner®). As a result of remarkable technological advancements, modern personal watercraft are up to 90 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than those produced prior to 1998. More information on personal watercraft can be viewed at www.pwia.org.
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