Thank you all for the interesting insights in this thread. I'm sure many of you have seen this recent incident in Malibu.
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/officials-paddleboarder-arrested-at-malibu-pier-for-flouting-state-stay-at-home-order/
To be sure, there is a standing order to not be out on the beach in CA.. We get it. However, we consider the response to be excessive. How many LE's were potentially put at risk over one guy on a paddleboard? All of them, in our opinion.
The American Watercraft Association's position is: If you take the prescribed precautions, handle the launch at the ramp quickly if applicable, and operate away from other watercraft, there are few better places to practice social distancing than by boating with your immediate household.
Personal watercraft owners are already required to wear a life jacket at all times, though I understand the valid concerns with other boaters not being required to. There is no reason why folks, with common sense, should be banned from operating their boats in a safe and prudent manner, following all protocols.
We recognize there are the 5 percent of boaters, who should never have a boating card to begin with. That's who LEs deal with almost exclusively. It's not unprecedented in any respect to advise citizens that in some circumstances there will be no service.
The impacts of complete bans on boating are incalculable. Our membership ranges from the wealthy with waterfront homes, to the techs twisting wrenches at the local small business dealer. Perhaps the wealthy can live without boating, but for those working folks in the industry, this is a disaster scarcely imaginable.
The people can not be kept inside or off the water for long. That's a quick road to mass noncompliance. No one has to explain to any LE where that leads.
As such, AWA will encourage our members in the near future to get on the water as a healthy endeavor, just as Mr. Barnard suggests. Plenty of air, sunlight, and exercise away from others. As long as they take precautions, it's social distancing at its best.
We cannot crash the economy in general, and our boating economy in particular. We're all smart and reasonable people. Certainly, there is a balance to be achieved. Here in Virginia, as Officer Reichle explained, we're still boating as long as we follow the protocols. That's reasonable.
We have dealers still selling watercraft. We cannot destroy any boating activity, without some forethought. All of us depend on boat registrations. I welcome any thoughts on striking a balance, or otherwise.
Chris Manthos
Director
American Watercraft Association
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Chris Manthos
Executive Director
American Watercraft Association
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2020 08:53 AM
From: Cody Jones
Subject: COVID-19, Social Distancing & Boating
With the arrival of COVID-19 and social distancing we're sure to see an impact on our waterways. We've seen reports of recent state waterway closures or restrictions to recreational boating after seeing increases in waterway use in Florida, Maryland, and Washington.
In our latest episode of NASBLA's podcast - Between the Waves - I offers some food for thought as we enter this different world on the water and I'm hoping we can extend the conversation here.
What's going on in your area? Are you seeing increases in waterway use as folks no longer have to be at work and school? Have waterways been closed to boating? Or are authorities encouraging boating but from a safe social distance? What impacts do you see to this year's boating season? Are we going to see more people pick up a cheap kayak at a big box store and try paddling for the first time? If you're a sworn law enforcement officer, are you being assigned other duties related to COVID-19?
NASBLA's podcast - Between the Waves - is now available on iTunes and Google Play.
Stay safe out there.
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Cody Jones
Boating Law Administrator
Asst. Commander Game Warden
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
Texas Game Wardens Serving Texans since 1895 - Law Enforcement off the Pavement
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