DOVER (May 31, 2013) – 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, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents between May 21 and 28 made 1,936 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 295 boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 85 complaints and issued 69 citations, five of which were associated with increased Fish and Wildlife Enforcement presence at the C&D Canal Conservation Area (formerly the C&D Canal Wildlife Area) and the associated recreational trail currently under construction. Incidents of particular note included: 

• Late at night on May 24, Enforcement agents responded to a boating accident in which a 22-foot Four Winns cabin cruiser collided with a stone jetty at the mouth of the C&D Canal. The severely-damaged vessel was estimated a total loss. The vessel’s operator, Gregory Mount, 46, of Essington, Pa., was cited for one count of negligent operation. A passenger who appeared to have suffered minor injuries received first aid from responding volunteer EMTs from the Delaware City Fire Company, but declined additional medical treatment. The vessel was recovered the next day by a salvage company. 

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses: 

Wildlife Conservation: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway in a state wildlife area (3), and damaging state property in a wildlife area (2), New Castle County; Trespassing after hours in a state wildlife area (2), Sussex County. 

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (24), New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties; Possession of undersized blue crab (1), Kent County; Illegal use of non-circle hooks for fishing during striped bass spawning season (2), possession of undersized weakfish (6), unlawful possession of river herring (2), over-the-limit recreational crab pots (1), and possession of undersized Atlantic croaker (1), Sussex County.

Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets aboard (3), and no ramp certificate (2), New Castle and Sussex counties; Operating an unregistered motor vessel (4), Kent and Sussex counties; Negligent operation of a vessel (1), New Castle County; Insufficient visual distress signals (2), Kent County; No life jacket on child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), operating an unregistered motor vessel (1), water skiing without required observer (1), operating personal watercraft without required fire extinguisher (1), no boating safety certificate (3), and allowing use of non-compliant vessel (1), Sussex County. 

Public Safety: Clamming in polluted area (3), New Castle County.

Other: Lewdness (1), and failure to signal intention (1), Kent County; Littering (1), Sussex County.

Are you AWARE?

The Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section asks visitors to the 5,100-acre C&D Canal Conservation Area (formerly the C&D Canal Wildlife Area) near St. Georges to be patient and comply with new rules – some of which are temporary – while construction on the new Michael Castle Trail proceeds. To ensure public safety, agents are strictly enforcing regulations prohibiting motor vehicle access to the trail and encouraging visitors to park in designated areas and walk. 

Designed primarily for walking, jogging, bicycling, and horseback riding, the Michael Castle Trail has been in the planning phase for more than seven years, during which numerous public comment sessions were held regarding its design and location. 

New permanent gates have been installed to restrict motor vehicle access to the completed portions of the trail. Gates on the north side of the canal are currently closed, restricting access to the lower tier road from the eastern-most point near the branch canal at Delaware City through and including the Summit Marina area. 

Until construction activities are complete, access on the upper tier roads between the Gunning Bedford School and Summit Marina will also be restricted limiting access to the ponds near the railroad bridge. Once construction is complete, vehicles will still be permitted to access most upper level roads for hunting and fishing activities. 

The C&D Canal Conservation Area encompasses the north and south banks of the canal and part of the eastern shoreline of the Delaware River. The conservation area also offers hunting and fishing opportunities, boating access, and the Summit Retriever Training Area. 

The DNREC Division of Fish and 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 and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902 

Vol. 43, No. 222

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DOVER (May 31, 2013) – Been thinking of casting a line into a nearby stream or daydreaming about a sunny afternoon at the beach with your surf rod, but just haven’t gotten around to purchasing your 2013 Delaware fishing license yet? Then you’ve got an angler’s good luck already for catching the opportunity to try fishing for free for a couple of days, thanks to DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.

To celebrate National Fishing Week, June 1-9, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife invites you to test your favorite Delaware waters for a taste of this year’s fishing, clamming and crabbing seasons by offering free fishing days on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9. On these two days, anyone may fish the state’s waters without a fishing license.

Anglers are reminded that even though they don’t need a license on those two days, if they intend to fish June 8 or 9, they are still required to obtain a free Fisherman Identification Network (F.I.N.) number. A free F.I.N. number can be obtained online at www.delaware-fin.com or by calling 1-800-432-9228. Anglers also are required to comply with Delaware’s fishing regulations, including size and daily catch limits. 

National Fishing Week festivities will also include DNREC’s 27^th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Sponsored by the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Enforcement Section, the event will take place at a pond in each county: Ingrams Pond in Millsboro, Wyoming Pond in Wyoming’s Town Park and the dog training area at Lums Pond State Park in Bear. 

The Youth Fishing Tournament is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program. 

With the exception of this one weekend, resident and non-resident anglers from the ages of 16 through 64 who fish, crab or clam in any Delaware waters – including ponds, impoundments, streams, rivers, bays and ocean – are required to purchase a fishing license. Delaware residents 65 or older and both residents and non-residents under age 16 do not have to purchase a license. Licenses are required for non-residents age 65 and older. 

Fishing licenses for Delaware residents cost $8.50, while non-residents pay $20 a year or $12.50 for a seven-day license. Licenses may be purchased online, at DNREC’s Richardson and Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, or at license agents located in sporting goods stores, hardware stores, bait and tackle shops and other businesses throughout the state.

The 2013 Fishing Guide, which includes complete details on fishing regulations, licensing, the F.I.N. program and exemptions, is also available from the DNREC Dover office, licensing agents statewide and on the Division of Fish and Wildlife website.  

To purchase a Delaware fishing license online, view the Fishing Guide, or for more information on fishing licenses, please visit the DNREC Fisheries homepage at www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/Fisheries.aspx. For more information, please call 302-739-9918.

Contact: JoAnna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 221

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Wilmington, DE – The Colonial School District will hold a referendum on June 4, 2013 from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. The list of Polling Places, a sample ballot and the notice of election at: http://electionsncc.delaware.gov/Colonial/co_ref.shtml.

To vote in this election you must be 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and the State of Delaware, and live in the Colonial School District.

An eligible citizen may vote at any of the buildings listed at http://electionsncc.delaware.gov/Colonial/co_ref.shtml#pp and is required to show proof of identity and address before being permitted to vote.

Contact the Department of Elections for New Castle County at (302) 577-3464 if you have any questions.

Contact: Anthony Albence or Howard Sholl. Phone: (302) 577-3464

Three billion people in the world today are looking for jobs, but only 1.2 billion jobs are available. That’s daunting math, but Delaware has the opportunity to win in this global war for jobs, which is better characterized as a global war for talent. We can put Delaware on a sustainable path of economic growth now and well into the future by ensuring we fully take advantage of the abilities of our people.
A report released this week outlines a critical part of this effort to compete and win on the global stage. It comes from the Delaware STEM Council, which I created to make quality education in science, technology, engineering and math a competitive advantage for our state. Nearly four times as many jobs are open in these STEM fields as thereare unemployed workers in Delaware.
Meanwhile we have almost two unemployed workers for every available job not related to these fields. We must recognize that the demand for those skills will only grow in the coming years. Our new report outlines concrete steps that we’re taking to prepare our current and future students to take these jobs: engaging the business community directly with students and their teachers to make the lessons taught in the classroom relevant to STEM careers; giving STEM a special status at every school; and improving teacher training and parent outreach. As I learned in the private sector, it doesn’t help to think about big government or small government, but rather about smart government that creates an environment for our communities to thrive. An ambitious agenda to emphasize STEM education will help keep Delaware moving forward.

(Wilmington, DE) In his weekly message , following the release of the Delaware STEM Council’s 2nd Annual Report , Governor Markell reinforces the importance of supporting and promoting the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

“Nearly four times as many jobs are open in these STEM fields as there are unemployed workers in Delaware,” said Governor Markell. “Meanwhile we have almost two unemployed workers for every available job not related to these fields. We must recognize that the demand for science and math skills will only grow in the coming years. Our new report outlines concrete steps to prepare our current and future students to take available jobs.”

Every Friday, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form.  The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/IvvPw0fs7RI
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

You may view the Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Preparing Out Future Workforce By Supporting STEM Education, Innovation