Reminder for the week: Visitors to Delaware’s wildlife, fishing and boating areas asked to respect natural resources

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, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between June 6-12 made 1772 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 244 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 52 complaints and issued 21 citations. This week, with an expanded Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continuing to be deployed as a deterrent, no citations were issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail.

Incidents of note:

• On June 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Jack R. Riley, 39, of Basking Ridge, N.J., for disorderly conduct following an incident at the Paradise Grill in Pot-Nets Bayside near Long Neck. Riley was remanded to the Sussex County Correctional Institute in Georgetown due to alcohol intoxication. He was later arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and released with a no-contact order with Paradise Grill, pending a court appearance at a later date.
• On June 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited John Beck, 65, of Milton, for negligent operation of a vessel in connection with a two-vessel crash at North Shore Marina in Indian River Bay. Damage to the two vessels was estimated at about $2,000. Beck was fined $107, including court costs

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (8), possession of undersized blue crab (2), recreational crab pot tampering (1), use of recreational crab pots without required turtle excluder (1), and possession of undersized striped bass (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Negligent operation of a vessel (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (2), towing a water skier or tube without required observer (1), no boat ramp certificate (1), and no boating education certificate (1).

Public Safety: Disorderly conduct (1).

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police News, Training and Outreach

• On June 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers assisted the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays with the annual Inland Bays Cleanup as Masseys Landing Boat Ramp. The event drew about 50 volunteers. The Operation Game Theft trailer was displayed at the event.
• On June 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police AFC Josh Hudson and his K-9 partner Rosco, a Labrador retriever, attended a “Touch-a-Truck” event with their patrol truck in Lewes. Children at the event enjoyed meeting Rosco, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police’s new K-9 officer based in Sussex County.

Are you AWARE?
With the arrival of summer, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are increasing patrols and closely monitoring state wildlife areas, fishing piers, public boat launching facilities and multi-use areas for visitor safety and compliance, as well as checking for illegal activity such as vandalism, littering, dumping and damaging wildlife habitat.

“The public is encouraged to enjoy our wildlife, fishing and boating access areas and the unique outdoor experiences they offer,” said Sgt. John McDerby of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “However, as stewards of this land for the general public, we cannot allow the few people who do not respect our conservation mission to ruin things for the many who do. Those caught abusing our natural resources through illegal activities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

State wildlife areas, fishing piers and boat launching facilities are closed to the public from sunset to sunrise unless a person is actively and lawfully engaged in fishing, hunting or boating in accordance with state regulations and individual wildlife area rules. Individuals not meeting these requirements and found at these sites between sunset and sunrise face fines up to $100 for trespassing after hours.

Wildlife area visitors also are reminded that it is illegal to operate motor vehicles – including motorcycles, cars, trucks and SUVs – off established roadways in state wildlife areas. Violators found to cause damage also will be cited for destruction of state property. In addition, operating a motor vehicle that is not licensed for use on established public roadways – including ATVs – is prohibited both on and off-road on state wildlife areas.

The following rules also apply to all state wildlife areas, fishing piers, public boat launching facilities and multi-use areas:

• Camping, swimming, target shooting (including paintball), dumping and littering, and fires are prohibited.
• Dog training is permitted only within established dog training areas or during open hunting seasons for the game animals that the dog is being trained to hunt.
• Hunting is permitted only in specified areas and only during designated hunting seasons.
• Firearms are prohibited on state wildlife areas from March 1 to Aug. 31, except during legal hunting seasons or as authorized by the Division of Fish & Wildlife.
• All of these sites have a carry-in, carry-out trash policy.

“Littering can be a problem, especially in many fishing areas, so please leave no trace behind and take your trash with you,” Sgt. McDerby said.

For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each area, visitors are encouraged to give close attention to Delaware wildlife area maps published by the Division of Fish & Wildlife. The maps are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and also can be found online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.

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 http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 221

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