Michigan marine safety program assessment

Boating is critical to Michigan's quality of life and economy. In 1998, it was estimated that the 980,378 Michigan registered watercraft (all motorized or rental craft) logged 18.4 million boating days and spent $635 million on boating trips in Michigan. An estimated 250,000 additional unregistered, non-motorized watercraft account for an additional 4.6 boating days. Boaters in Michigan had 343 reported boating accidents and 27 fatalities in 1999. The Michigan Marine Safety Grants program, established by law in 1967, provides a state match of 3:1 for county marine safety activities. This includes for marine law enforcement, search and rescue, water safety education, recovery of drowned bodies and boat livery inspections. In 2000, 80 of Michigan's 83 counties participated and the state provided $3.1 million in state matching funds. In a 2001 assessment of marine safety efforts, regional meetings with sheriffs, a follow up mail survey of sheriffs and analysis of boating fatality records, boat registrations and marine safety actions were used to assess the program. A total of 611 county law enforcement personnel worked at marine safety tasks in 2000 and patrolled 66% of the state's inland lake acreage, all Great Lakes and connecting waters and 98 rivers and streams. Ninety-seven percent of participating counties were involved in marine safety education. Counties provided 52% of total marine expenditures, far above the state mandated state/county 3:1 match due to inadequate state funding. The Secretary of State annually takes 10% of all watercraft license revenue as overhead. It is recommended that instead of triennial registration with the Michigan Secretary of State, an annual licensing of boats be done by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This will reduce administrative overhead providing an additional $800,000 for marine safety programs. Further, all watercraft used in Michigan should be licensed, including currently unregistered nonmotorized private craft. Analysis of Michigan boating fatalities for 1997-2001 revealed that of the 133 fatalities, 49 (44.4%) occurred in nonmotorized craft. Further, non-motorized craft use the same public water access sites now solely maintained by boat registrations and marine fuel taxes from motorized boaters.