This statement is based on an exercise carried out by the British Canoe Union in 1980/81 to find out from member federations of the International Canoe Federation what is the position in their respective countries. A summary of responses follows; where there is more recent information available, this is also included.

ARGENTINA
Sportive navigation on rivers, lakes and other waters is free.

AUSTRALIA
All waterways, rivers etc are used by canoeists and are completely free and accessible and open to all users without restriction.

BULGARIA
The inner rivers of our country are common property and every Bulgarian can boat freely by his own route by his own wish.

CANADA
For the most part, there are no restrictions with respect to canoes. Authorisation of Minister required for a limited number of specified lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

CHINA
For Chinese citizens there is no restriction on sailing in inland water in canoes.

FINLAND
Everybody has the right, when avoiding causing unnecessary disturbance, to pass through the waters wherever they are open (if not closed by on the basis of legal rights). In practice this means that paddlers may move freely in Finland.

FRANCE
(BCU research 1991) There is a right of passage on all waterways classified as 'state domain', comprising those formerly used commercially by boats or for floating or rafting logs. Other rivers are private, but 'the Administration' by virtue of a law of 1964 has a role to protect the generality of usage and has introduced common sense rules so that owners, anglers and navigators can live together.

GERMANY
(BCU research 1991) There are lists of 'permitted' waterways, which in fact include practically all streams that lend themselves to canoeing; on these waters riparian property owners are 'required to tolerate' use by the public of unpowered craft.

HUNGARY
Prohibitions only for extremely special cases. Sports boats are allowed to run on every other surface without restriction.

IVORY COAST (West Africa)
Use of the waters of the Ivory Coast for canoeing and kayaking does not present any problem to participants. Certain safety regulations apply.

LUXEMBOURG
Waters are in the public domain; private waters do not exist.

NEW ZEALAND
Apart from natural hazards eg waterfalls and man made hazards eg dams canoeist have free use throughout the country of a large variety of waterways.

NORWAY
There are no restrictions on the use of canoes anywhere.

POLAND
Difficulties in moving about on the waters inside Poland do not exist.

SPAIN
(BCU research 1991) In parts of Spain there are restrictions to canoeing. Salmon rivers flowing into the Atlantic are subject to restrictions March to July/August only. Time restrictions on other rivers May to August and prohibition November and December.

SWEDEN
There are no laws of navigation forbidding the use of Swedish waters.

SWITZERLAND
(BCU research 1991) Varies in different Cantons; some prohibitions and some licensing.

UNITED STATES
(BCU research 1991) Public use widely established.