Nuisance jet skiers who plague Britain's seasides could be thrown in prison for years under draconian new government legislation.
The new law will come into force on March 31 2023, before the busy summer period, and will give the Maritime and Coastguard Agency more powers to crack down on riders who cause crashes.
This follows a boom in the watercraft industry during the pandemic, with the number, size, power and availability of watercraft like jet skis rocketing.
More and more of the craft are being whizzed around Britain's coast, the government has said.
Watercraft are not currently covered by wider maritime safety legislation.
The new law will mean those found guilty of using their watercraft in a dangerous manner could receive an unlimited fine and/or up to two years in prison.
Calls for a crackdown on nuisance riders have been increasing in recent years, in part due to a number of high profile incidents.
In May, jet skiers were caught on camera ploughing through seabird colonies near Puffin Island in Wales.
A similar incident occurred in July 2021, when jet skiers were photographed riding through rafts of wildlife near South Stack.
In August 2020, a woman died after a jet ski collided with a rigid inflatable boat called Rib Tickler on the Menai Strait, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.
Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere said: “The watercraft industry is thriving and it’s great to see more and more people enjoying leisure activities. However, they must do so safely.
“That’s why we’re introducing a new law to crack down on any dangerous misuse of watercraft like jet skis.
"It will give the Maritime and Coastguard Agency greater power to prosecute those responsible for causing accidents or entirely avoidable tragedies.
“We’ll continue working to ensure our country’s coasts and waters are safe for everyone.”
For those who cause accidents involving loss of life, the new offences could be used to better prosecute perpetrators alongside wider manslaughter charges.
Personal and recreational watercraft will also be bound by the “Highway Code of the sea” - international regulations which require users to act safely by maintaining a lookout, driving at safe speeds and outlining their responsibilities to other vessels.
