GILFORD — Here's some reassuring news for Memorial Day visitors to the Lakes Region: Statistics on boater activity in the state show a steady, substantial decline in the number of boating accidents and fatalities in the state in the past decade, particularly in the past three years.

State safety officials are crediting the state's mandatory Boating Safety Education law. Passed in 2000 and phased in among age groups until 2007, the law requires that people 16 or older who operate a boat over 25 horsepower on state waters have a boating education certificate.

Certificates are earned by completing a one of the state's eight-hour safe boating courses and passing an examination with a minimum grade of 70 percent, or by waiving the course and passing a safe boater equivalency examination with a minimum grade of 80 percent. Certificates are valid for the lifetime of the holder.

“It's obvious that we're seeing a more educated boater out there,” said Marine Patrol Lt. Tim Dunleavy at the state's first Marine Safety Summit on Friday, which brought together several state boating safety groups to discuss safety issues and activities.

“The numbers show a definite trend, particularly if you go back over 10 years or so, and we'd like to think that boater education has had something to do with that.”

Ryan Crawford, who runs Winnisquam Marine in Belmont and is president of the New Hampshire Marine Trades Association, said he's seen a change at his marina, and also credits boater education.

“You used to see boats coming in with lots of dings and dents, but there's been a lot less damage, that's changed over the years,” said Crawford, whose organization was part of the Friday summit, along with Safe Boaters of New Hampshire, the Lakes Region Sail and Power Squadron, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 1999, there were 109 reported accidents among boaters on state waters, six of which involved a fatality. In 2000, there were 94 accidents, seven of which involved a fatality.

In 2006, there were 79 reported boating accidents, five of which involved a fatality. In 2009, according to state statistics, there were 66 reported accidents in the state, seven of which involved a death. In 2010, there were 50 reported accidents involving three fatalities, and last year, there just 37 reported boating accidents, two of which involved a death.

During the past three years, law enforcement has also stepped up. The number of warnings issued by officers on state waters has increased from 2,146 in 2009 to 3,017 in 2011. The number of citations issued to boaters increased from 984 in 2009 to 1,386 in 2010, but dropped slightly to 1,337 in 2011. In 2009, there were 21 arrests on state waters, there were 27 in 2010, and 28 in 2011.

The state accepts registrations from boaters in other states who have passed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved test. It also will accept certificates from the U.S. Power Squadron, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and unexpired commercial boating licenses issued by the state or the Coast Guard.

Boaters usually find the courses enlightening, Dunleavy said.

“We hear them as they come out saying, 'I didn't know that!' which is the intent of education,” Dunleavy said.