Yamaha Rightwaters marked its seventh anniversary on June 8 at World Oceans
Day 2026.
Launched in 2019, Yamaha Rightwaters continues to support programs that make significant progress in keeping waterways clean and promoting sustainability for generations to come. Several key metrics over the course of the last 12 months include:
More than 264.2 tons of debris removed from U.S. lakes, rivers and coastal waters through collaborations with clean up organizations including Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, Keep the Golden Isles Beautiful, the Conch Republic Marine Army and the Chattahoochee River Keeper
More than 155 million oysters successfully re-established in critical marine environments across the U.S. through support for the Billion Oyster Project, the UGA Marine Extension Program, Mobile Baykeeper, Georgia Southern University
31,752 students engaged in research and restoration through support for organizations and programs including the International Gamefish Association’s “Passports to Fishing,” the Chattahoochee River Keeper’s floating classroom, Wildlife Forever, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, The University of Georgia®, The Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia Southern University
20,512 invasive lionfish removed during the Emerald Coast Open 2026
224,000 acres of coastal land restored through relationships with organizations including Ducks Unlimited, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, Mobile Baykeeper and Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.
“Yamaha Rightwaters reflects our long-term commitment to protecting the waters that make boating and fishing possible,” says Joshua Grier, sustainability program manager, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “From habitat restoration to recycling initiatives and conservation partnerships, every effort is designed to preserve marine environments for future generations. Healthy waterways are critical not only to the ecosystems themselves, but to the future of recreational boating and fishing.”
Yamaha Rightwaters agreed to support The University of Georgia’s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant fleet, according to the company, which works to improve the environmental, social and economic health of the Georgia coast through research, education and extension, over a 5-year period. Yamaha Rightwaters provided three Yamaha 150-horsepower outboards in 2025 and will continue to provide outboard power for vessels in 2026 and 2027 with one Yamaha 90-hp outboard, one 115-hp outboard, one 150-hp outboard and one 200-hp outboard, to help support the responsible use of Georgia’s coastal resources.
In addition, Yamaha Rightwaters joined forces with Davidson College to sponsor a student-led sustainable marine project focused on repowering and redesigning a pontoon vessel with a Torqeedo Cruise 6.0 R electric outboard motor, according to the company. The project aimed to convert a gas-powered pontoon into a fully solar-powered vessel with minimal environment impact.
Yamaha Rightwaters also expanded its sponsorship with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) through a renewed three-year agreement, according to the company, which provides HSWRI with two new outboards that will help the organization fulfill research and marine mammal rescue work in Florida and California. A Yamaha 115-horsepower outboard will power the primary response vessel for HSWRI’s Marine Mammal Stranding Team, and a 50-hp Yamaha outboard will power the HSWRI skiff that services offshore white seabass net pens. Yamaha Rightwaters became the official outboard of HSWRI in June of 2023.
In the spring of 2026, Yamaha Rightwaters and Georgia Southern University released new findings from a collaborative coastal conservation project, demonstrating restored oyster reefs can significantly enhance salt marsh growth and shoreline stability along the Georgia coast, according to the company.
Results recently published in the journal Diversity showed all restored sites experienced consistent marsh growth, outperforming nearby unrestored control sites despite varying environmental conditions.
In 2025, Yamaha Rightwaters entered a five-year agreement with Tampa Bay Waterkeeper to strengthen water quality advocacy in Tampa Bay, according to the company. Through this collaboration, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper received a 115-hp outboard to repower its work vessel, enhancing its environmental initiatives.
Finally, Yamaha Rightwaters joined forces with Mobile Baykeeper to help protect and restore the Coastal Alabama Watershed, according to the company. Mobile Baykeeper, a nonprofit organization, works to improve water quality and reduce pollution in the bay through marine research and habitat restoration. To advance these efforts, Yamaha Rightwaters provided one 30-hp tiller outboard and two 150-hp outboards, which will support two primary initiatives: revitalizing oyster populations to lower chemical levels and prevent coastal erosion, and restoring seagrass beds to support increased biodiversity, sediment stabilization and nutrient filtration.
The U.S. Embassy in Nassau has renewed its warning to American travelers about renting or accepting rides on personal watercraft in The Bahamas, citing multiple reports of sexual assaults, serious injuries and fatalities involving jet ski operators.
In an advisory issued June 15, embassy officials said seven sexual assaults involving U.S. citizens have been reported since 2024, including at least two cases reported this year. According to the embassy, some victims said they were approached by jet ski operators on beaches near Nassau and Paradise Island before being transported to isolated islands where assaults occurred.
The advisory also highlighted ongoing safety concerns surrounding personal watercraft operations in the popular Caribbean destination. U.S. officials reported that six American tourists have been hospitalized following jet ski accidents since August 2024, with three requiring emergency medical evacuation back to the United States.
In one widely cited incident, a U.S. citizen riding a jet ski was killed in August 2025 after being struck by an unlicensed boat operator near Paradise Island.
The warning is the latest in a series of alerts issued by the U.S. government regarding watercraft rentals in The Bahamas. Embassy officials have repeatedly raised concerns about operators who may be unlicensed, uninsured or using unregistered equipment.
“Many watercraft are unsafe, and operators are unlicensed and uninsured,” U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker said in a video message accompanying the advisory.
The renewed warning underscores the importance of proper operator training, safety education and regulatory oversight within the personal watercraft segment. While the incidents cited involve tourism operators rather than authorized powersports dealers or U.S. rental operators, the advisory highlights how safety practices and operator accountability can influence public perception of the broader PWC market.
The embassy is advising U.S. travelers to avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas, remain cautious of solicitations from operators near Nassau-area beaches and cruise port locations, and verify that operators comply with local regulations. Officials also reminded visitors that Bahamian regulations prohibit jet ski rentals to individuals under 18 and do not allow operators to ride with renters.
This advisory is noteworthy as summer travel activity ramps up at one of the most popular destinations for cruise passengers and watercraft tourism in the Caribbean.