How do tide tables assist mariners in navigation?

Tide tables are essential tools for mariners as they provide predictions for tide heights and timings at specific locations. Understanding the behavior of tides is crucial for safe navigation because tides influence water levels, currents, and potential hazards in navigable waters. Mariners rely on this information to plan their journeys, especially when navigating in shallow waters or areas with significant tidal ranges. By knowing when high or low tides occur, they can avoid running aground or encountering obstacles that may become submersible. This knowledge allows for optimal timing of vessel movements, ensuring safety and efficiency in navigation.

The other options, while relevant to maritime operations, do not directly relate to the function of tide tables. For instance, weather forecasts pertain to atmospheric conditions rather than tidal patterns, local fishing regulations govern fishing activities and do not affect navigation, and nautical charts provide geographical and navigational details but do not offer tide predictions.