Final answer:
True. It is illegal to operate a boat in a way that endangers the safety, rights, or property of others. Laws are designed to prevent accidents and protect waterway users and environments such as those depicted in FIGURE 6.12 with tuna fishing.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is indeed true that operating a boat in a manner that endangers the ability to conserve the safety, rights, or property of others is illegal. This concept is related to maritime law and regulations that aim to ensure safety and prevent accidents on waterways. These laws are designed to protect everyone who uses waterways, including commercial entities, recreational boaters, and those living in the vicinity of these waters.
Examples of illegal boating operations may include speeding in no-wake zones, boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and not following navigational rules. Each of these actions can significantly increase the risk of accidents, which could lead to damage or injury. It is each boater's responsibility to operate their vessel with care and to respect the guidelines put in place to protect all waterway users and the environment.
One of the regulatory concepts that come into play here is the tragedy of the commons, which refers to a situation where individual users acting independently and rationally according to each one's self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting a shared resource. FIGURE 6.12 in the question, although not detailed here, may exemplify this phenomenon in the context of commercial fishing which when done irresponsibly, can lead to the overfishing of species like tuna and consequently, the degradation of the marine ecosystem.
The law and regulations governing maritime activities, including boating, are put in place to prevent such tragedies and to ensure the preservation of both public safety and the environment.