Watersports enthusiasts are being urged to clearly label their equipment amid growing concerns that unmarked boards and kayaks are triggering unnecessary emergency callouts along the UK coastline.
Safety organisations including HM Coastguard and the RNLI say adding contact details to items such as paddleboards, kayaks and canoes can play a crucial role in both reuniting lost equipment and preventing full-scale search operations.
Each year, coastguard teams are alerted to reports of abandoned or drifting equipment washed up on beaches. Without any identifying information, crews must often assume the worst — that someone may be in the water and in danger — prompting urgent multi-agency rescue responses involving lifeboats, helicopters and search teams.
Officials say many of these incidents turn out to be false alarms, where equipment has simply been lost or blown offshore, but the lack of contact details means valuable time and resources are still deployed.
By contrast, clearly labelled equipment allows coastguard teams to quickly trace the owner and confirm whether they are safe, potentially avoiding unnecessary emergency operations.
The issue is particularly relevant as participation in watersports continues to rise across coastal areas, including North Wales, where paddleboarding and kayaking have surged in popularity in recent years.
As well as the safety implications, labelling can also help recover stolen or lost equipment. High-value items such as paddleboards are frequently targeted by thieves, and identifiable markings can make it easier for police to return recovered property to its rightful owner.
Safety advice encourages users to attach waterproof labels with a name and contact number in a visible position on their equipment. These labels are designed to withstand harsh marine conditions and remain readable even after prolonged exposure to water.
Authorities say the simple step could make a significant difference in an emergency.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said that when unidentified equipment is found, “we have to consider that someone could be in difficulty in the water. Having contact details means we can make quick enquiries and stand down resources if no one is at risk.”
With the warmer months approaching and more people heading to the coast, safety teams are reminding watersports users that preparation goes beyond checking the weather and wearing the right gear.
Labelling equipment, they say, is a small action that could help save time, resources — and potentially lives.