Reminder for the week: After-hours entry to wildlife areas is unlawful

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between July 17-23 made 2,123 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 269 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 75 citations. Officers responded to 85 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On July 17, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited four individuals for one count each of unlicensed fishing and possession of unlawfully taken horseshoe crabs near Rehoboth. Tommy Pham, 43, Dethyen Luong, 40, Be H Luong, 41, and Binh M. Luong, 46, all of Silver Spring, Md., were each fined $507, including court costs and released.
• On July 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Alan Rowe, 36, of Milford for one count of negligent operation of a motor vessel, no sound-producing device on board, no registration card on board, and no boating safety certificate on the Broadkill River, near Lewes. Rowe was fined $428, including court costs and released.
• On July 19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Jeffrey A. Lovett, 29, of Milford following an investigation into the sale of yellowfin tuna without having purchased a Delaware food fish license, near Milford. Lovett was arrested for one count of interstate transfer of food fish and arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3 where he was released to appear at a later date.
• On July 23, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited James C. Woodward, 44, of Pylesville, Md., for one count of operating under the influence on the Rehoboth Bay, near Massey’s Landing. He was released with an order to appear in Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 14 at a later date.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (6), possession of unlawfully taken horseshoe crabs (4), interstate transfer of food fish (1), possession of undersized summer flounder (1), use of recreational crab pots without required turtle excluder (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (12), over the limit crab pots (1), improperly marked crab pots (1), and possession of undersized white perch (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Negligent operation of a motor vessel (2), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), no tidal/non-tidal ramp certificate (1), operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (2), failure to observe slow/no wake zone (1), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (5), no boating safety certificate (3), towing a water skier without required observer (1), allowing use of non-compliant vessel (1), no sound-producing device on board (2), fail to maintain proper lookout (1), no fire extinguisher on board (1), no registration in possession (1), and operating a motor vessel with an expired registration (1).

Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia (2)* and driving with a suspended or revoked license (1)*.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (15)*, trespass to fish in closed area of division lands (3)*, and littering/dumping on a state wildlife area (1).

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind visitors to division wildlife areas, fishing piers and boat launching facilities that these areas are closed to the public from sunset to sunrise unless a person is actively and lawfully engaged in fishing or hunting in accordance with state regulations and individual wildlife area rules. Anyone not meeting these requirements found in Division of Fish & Wildlife sites between sunset and sunrise faces fines up to $100 for trespassing after hours.

For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each wildlife area, wildlife area visitors are encouraged to review Delaware wildlife area maps. These maps are available online and in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

Media Contact: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386

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