Reminder for week: Anglers need fishing license, FIN Number

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 26-July 2 made 5,466 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 877 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 103 citations. Officers responded to 118 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 26 and 28, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers conducted several K9 demonstrations at the Georgetown Police Department Junior Academy and the Delaware State Police Camp Barnes Youth Camp.
• On June 26-30, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers held the first of two basic Police Youth Academies. Twenty-four youth attended the academy in Kent County at the Little Creek Hunter Education Building and received their hunter and boating safety certifications at graduation.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On June 26, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Bruce Davis, 47, of Seaford following an investigation into an incident that occurred at the Lewes Boat Ramp. Davis was arrested for one count of offensive touching and arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3 where he transferred his case to the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas. He was issued a no contact order and released on $250 unsecured bond to appear at a later date.
• On June 30, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Donahue Ellis, 27, of Smyrna following an investigation into several criminal, traffic, and Natural Resources violations that occurred in April at Woodland Beach. Ellis was charged with one count of criminal impersonation, one count of operating a motor vehicle off established roadway, one count of operate unregistered motor vehicle, one count of operate motor vehicle with excessive speed, one count of OHV operator disobey command to stop, and one count of operate OHV in violation of traffic control devices. He was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 where he was held on $505 secure bond.
• On June 30-July 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers statewide participated in Operation Dry Water, a three-day weekend event to heighten awareness of boating under the influence laws and enforcement. During these efforts, officers contacted 3,095 boaters and members of the public, conducting 587 boardings of recreational and commercial vessels to ensure compliance with boating safety and spent 211.5 hours on the water. Officers issued 16 citations, 2 of these being for operating under the influence.
• On July 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Michael A. Anderson, 38, of New Castle for one count of operating under the influence and one count of registration, numbering and marking of a vessel/numbers and letters prohibited. He was released with an order to appear in Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 14 at a later date.
• On July 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Richard H. Bell, 33, of Georgetown for one count of operating under the influence. He was released with an order to appear in Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 14 at a later date.
• On July 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers investigated a boating incident that resulted in an individual being sent to the hospital on the Rehoboth Bay near Dewey Beach. The individual was standing on the rear platform of the vessel, when he fell off and was struck by the vessel’s propeller. The individual was treated at Beebe Hospital for severe lacerations to the left leg and released.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (22)*, license misinterpretation (1), possession of undersized blue crab (5), use of recreational crab pots without required turtle excluder (1), possession of prohibited shark (3), possession of undersized black seabass (2), possession of summer flounder parts (1), possession of undersized clam (1), and possession of undersized white perch (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (2), negligent operation of a motor vessel (2), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (6), failure to observe slow/no wake zone (7), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (6), no boating safety certificate (9), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (1), PWC in swim zone (1), no fire extinguisher on board (2), and registration number violation (1).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana-civil (3), criminal impersonation (1), operating a motor vehicle off established roadway (1), operate an unregistered motor vehicle (1), excessive speed (1), operate motor vehicle with excessive speed (1), OHV operator disobey command to stop (1), and operate OHV in violation of traffic control devices (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (18)*, and littering/dumping on a state wildlife area (1)*.

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

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?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind recreational anglers that a Delaware fishing license is required for fishing, crabbing, and clamming in both tidal and non-tidal waters statewide.

A resident annual Delaware recreational fishing license, which covers fresh and tidal waters as well as crabbing and clamming, costs $8.50 for ages 16 through 64. Persons under the age of 16 and residents age 65 and older are not required to purchase fishing licenses in Delaware. For non-resident anglers age 16 and older, a Delaware fishing license costs $20.

Both resident and non-resident anglers age 16 and older also are required to obtain a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number. The free number is included as part of a Delaware fishing license purchase. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may visit www.delaware-fin.com or call 800-432-9228 toll-free to obtain their free FIN number.

Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, click on 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

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.

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

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