Members of the 2018 DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy class learning to march last week.

Reminder for the week: Anglers need fishing license, FIN Number

DOVER (July 6, 2018) – 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 June 25-July 1 made 4,257 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 135 citations. Officers responded to 102 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

• June 25-29, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers held their Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy at the Ommelanden Hunter Education Center, near New Castle. Twenty kids, ages 12-15, participated and received their hunting and boating education certificates.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incident of note:

• On July 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested an individual for 77 counts of possession of undersized blue crabs while commercial crabbing in the Delaware Bay. He was arraigned at Kent County justice of the Peace Court 7, where he pleaded guilty and was fined $1,545 and released.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (2), failure to have required fisheries identification number (FIN) (1), possession of undersized blue crab-recreational (3), possession of undersized blue crab-commercial (80), possession of undersized white perch (1), over the limit recreational crab pots (2) and recreational crab pot tampering (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (4), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (3), negligent operation of a vessel (3), no tidal boat ramp certificate (2), operating under the influence of alcohol (1), towing a water skier without required observer (1), failure to observe slow no wake zone (4), failure to observe slow no wake zone-PWC (1), no Type IV PFD (1), no boating safety certificate (2) and operating an unregistered vessel (1).

Public Safety: Shellfish in a closed polluted area-recreational clamming (4), driving with a suspended license (1), civil possession of marijuana (2), possession of drug paraphernalia- marijuana related (4), possession of drug paraphernalia (2) and possession of prescription drugs not in original container (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (7)*, and fictitious vehicle registration (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?
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 2018 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, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

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

Contact: Lt. John McDerby, 302-354-1386, Sgt. Brooke Africa, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913.

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