Reminder for the week: Boat owners reminded to renew boat registrations before New Year use

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 Dec. 5-11 made 2,432 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 99 vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, resulting in the issuance of 266 citations. Officers responded to 37 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 associated recreational trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On Dec. 6, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a commercial waterman from Milton for 140 counts of possession of undersized channel conch. Charges stemmed from a commercial fishing compliance boarding conducted by officers on Nov. 8 near Lewes. The subject was arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3 where he pled guilty to 14 counts and was fined $1,284.
• On Dec. 7, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a commercial waterman from Ellendale for 109 counts of possession of undersized channel conch. Charges stemmed from a commercial fishing compliance boarding conducted by officers on Nov. 30 near Slaughter Beach. The subject was arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3 where he pled guilty to 20 counts and was fined $1,820.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Unlicensed hunting (1), trespassing to hunt (1), hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (2), hunting migratory waterfowl during closed season – Canada Goose (1), possession of unlawfully taken waterfowl – Canada Goose (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required state waterfowl stamp (1), possession of unlawfully taken game – rabbit (2), wildlife area map violation – failure to hunt as permitted by area rules (3), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp (1), and possession of prohibited lead shot while hunting migratory waterfowl (2).

Fisheries Conservation: Commercial: Possession of undersized channel conch (249).

Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1).

Public Safety: Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (1).

Are you AWARE?
Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that if their Delaware boat registrations expire Dec. 31, the registration must be renewed before taking their boats out on the water in 2017.

State law requires that all motor-powered vessels that are principally used in Delaware or used, docked or stowed on Delaware waters for more than 60 consecutive days must be registered in Delaware. Registration numbers provide identification for recovering lost or stolen vessels or identifying vessels violating the law, and help locate persons involved in boating accidents.

“Under Delaware’s boating laws, the operator of a vessel – not necessarily the owner – is responsible for ensuring the vessel is registered, carries all required safety equipment and is operated in a safe manner,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police boating safety coordinator.

Delaware’s online boat registration system was recently modernized with the installation of a new online system that improves electronic management of registration records to ensure better accuracy and consistency. Boat owners can currently renew their registrations online Boat Registration Renewal or through DNREC’s boat registration office at 89 Kings Highway in Dover. For more information, contact the boat registration office at 302-739-9916.

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.

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

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