Reminder for the week: Have a safe holiday weekend on Delaware waterways

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 June 19-25 made 2,308 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 212 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 156 citations. Officers responded to 55 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 in the Community

• On June 24, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers presented information about fisheries regulations and conducted several K9 demonstrations at the Roxana Fire Hall Safety Day.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On June 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Frank Eicherly, 58, of Frederica, for one count of horseshoe crab assistant shall not handle load or drive vehicle at Bowers Beach. Eicherly was fined $342, including court costs, and released.
• On June 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Hobert Cox Jr., 21, of New Castle, following an investigation into an incident in which bags of trash were dumped along a mile stretch of the C&D Canal Conservation Area roads, near St. Georges. Cox was arrested for one count of cause or contribute to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials and arraigned at New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 11 where he plead guilty, was fined $520, including court costs and released.
• On June 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Sean T. Odoherty, 41, of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania for one count of inattentive operation of a vessel following an investigation into a vessel accident. Odoherty struck the Pea Patch Island jetty with his 24.5 foot Bayliner, which sank in the Delaware River. He was fined $107, including court costs and released.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crab (108)**, unlicensed fishing (5), possession of undersized summer flounder (2), possession of summer flounder parts (2), horseshoe crab assistant shall not handle load or drive vehicle (1), and possession of undersized white perch (3).

Boating and Boating Safety: No throwable life preserver on board as required for vessels 16 feet longer or longer (1), unregistered vessel (1), no sound-producing device on board (1), inattentive operation (1), and no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana-civil (1), theft under $1,500 (6)**, theft with victim over 65 years of age (4)**, conspiracy third degree (2)**, and criminal mischief under $1,000 (10)**.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (3), dumping/littering on a state wildlife area (2)*, and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on state wildlife area (1).

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

**See related press release: DNREC Division Fish & Wildlife officers make arrests for crabbing violations and crab pot thefts.

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.

Are you AWARE?
With many boaters heading out on the water for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that drinking and boating don’t mix – and that boat operators found to have blood alcohol levels of 0.08 or higher will face charges for operating a vessel under the influence as well as putting themselves, their passengers and other boaters at risk.

Other tips for recreational boaters to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend include:

• Exercise patience and courtesy at crowded boat ramps and docks.
• Observe all “slow – no wake” areas.
• Maintain a lookout for other vessels and keep a safe distance away.
• Avoid traveling at unsafe speeds, including congested areas.
• Do not allow youth under age 16 to operate jet skis.
• Make sure children 12 and younger are wearing life jackets while underway as required by law.
• Check navigation lights and make sure to turn them on when operating at night.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

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

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

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