Actually, yes, there are numerous non-recreational uses for a personal watercraft. Sometimes a personal watercraft is preferred in place of a small motorboat because they are smaller, faster, more easily handled, quite simple to use, and more affordable. On top of that, their propulsion systems do not have external propellers which make them safer for swimmers and wildlife.
Another non-recreational use of PWCs is their ability to help in rescue situations. Lifeguards for non-pool bodies of water use personal watercrafts with rescue platforms to assist people who get into trouble in the water back to shore safely. PWCs have even been used to rescue flood survivors.
Law enforcement has also benefited from the invention of the personal watercraft. Their fast speed and superb agility assist police and rangers in enforcing laws on lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water.
More recently, PWCs have started to be used for coaching rowing. When the PWC is meshed with a wash-reduction system and when the BOSE waterproof tannoy is installed, it becomes an excellent mode of transportation for assistant coaches. When PWCs contain the newest integrated GPS systems, this provides accurate assessments of time and speed for the rowing students.