Reminder for the week: Know and use aids to navigation while boating

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between May 28-June 3 made 2,480 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 35 citations. Officers responded to 44 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 May 29-31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers hosted programs introducing students from Cedar Lane Early Childhood Education Center to Delaware’s native wildlife and natural resources at Lums Pond State Park.
• On June 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers hosted the 32nd annual Youth Fishing Tournament at which 213 children and their families enjoyed a great day of fishing at three tournament locations throughout the state. The tournament introduces its participants to the sport of fishing and teaches conservation through the practice of “Catch & Release.”

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incident of note:

• On May 31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested an individual for multiple assault charges near Smyrna. The following press release was issued in regards to the incident: DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest Smyrna man on multiple assault charges.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (3), trespass to fish (1), possession of undersized blue crab (6), unlawful to catch shark between May 15-July 15 (1), and possession of undersized striped bass (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), no boating safety certificate (1), failure to observe slow/no wake zone (1), failure to maintain a proper lookout (1), and no fire extinguisher on board (1).

Public Safety: Aggravated menacing (1), assault third degree – intentionally or recklessly causing physical injury to another (1), terroristic threatening (1), and offensive touching (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4), parking/obstruct boat ramp, roadway or trail with vehicle (1), possession of drug paraphernalia (2), theft by false promise under $1,500 (1), unattended vehicle (3), and operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (1)*.

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

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?
Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police want to remind boaters to take time before going underway to become educated on the aids to navigation and the waterways in which you will be traveling.

Aids to navigation is a system of buoys and markers that assist a boater in determining their position on the water and identify any potential dangers and waterway obstructions. Aids to navigation can be used to plot position and course on nautical charts and also assist in choosing the preferred and safest route when out on the water.

To learn more about aids to navigation and safe boating, sign up to take a boater’s safety course by visiting our Boating Safety link.

To report boating and fisheries violations please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24hour dispatch line at: 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

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

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Africa, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

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