The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced on May 13 that it will recognize National Safe Boating Week from May 16 to 22, an annual public awareness campaign focused on boating safety as summer approaches.
The campaign aims to educate boaters and water users about important safety measures. The department said a boat should have enough U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jackets for all passengers. North Dakota law requires all children ages 10 and younger to wear a personal flotation device while in boats less than 27 feet long. The law also requires all personal watercraft users, as well as anyone being towed on skis, tubes, boards or similar devices, to wear a life jacket.
Exceptions exist under state law: individuals engaged in barefoot skiing or surfing may wear a wet suit if there is a life preserver on board the towing vessel, and people at least 16 years old can windsurf or boardsail without wearing a personal flotation device. The department advises water users to ensure their life jackets are the right size and in good condition.
According to Coast Guard statistics cited by the department, drowning was reported as the cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2024; of those who drowned, 87% were not wearing life jackets.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department provides licenses and permits for hunting, fishing, and boating; offers educational programs; manages wildlife conservation initiatives; promotes community engagement through hunter education courses; collaborates with landowners for habitat protection; operates across the state managing wildlife populations; and specializes in wildlife conservation management—all according to the official website.
As summer begins, officials encourage everyone heading out onto North Dakota’s waters to follow these guidelines for safe recreation.
