Reminder for the week: Sign up to take Delaware’s new, interactive boating safety course

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 July 16-22 made 2,989 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 32 citations. Officers responded to 63 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 July 17-21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers held their Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy at the Ommelanden Hunter Education Building near New Castle. Eleven kids, ages 12-15, participated and received their turkey hunter education course certificates.
• On July 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers provided a K-9 demonstration with K-9 Rosco for campers at Camp Barnes near Frankford.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incident of note:

• On July 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Samual R. Ellers Sr., 63, of Harrington, with one count each of: operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area, damaging state property on a wildlife area, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area, and dumping on a state wildlife area at the Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area near Felton. Ellers was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7, where his case was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas and was released on his own recognizance.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: No F.I.N. (6), possession of undersized blue crab (2), crab pot tampering (1), use of crab pots without required turtle excluder (1), and possession of undersized summer flounder (4).

Boating and Boating Safety: Failure to observe slow no wake (1), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), operating an unregistered vessel (1), negligent operation of a vessel (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), and no boating safety certificate (1).

Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia (1) and target shooting on a state forest (2).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (5), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2)*, damaging state property on a wildlife area (1), and dumping 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 de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?

Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Office of Boating Safety & Education has made Delaware the “first state” to approve and launch a new, interactive boating safety course. For years, Delaware has been offering online courses in addition to the instructor-led classes, but the technology upgrade brings a variety of educational methods to the online course with a more interactive and gamified approach. The Office of Boating Safety & Education hopes that the gamified, interactive course will appeal to a large portion of students, and will further aid in the retention of the key safety information.

The interactive boating safety course was developed in partnership with Kalkomey. More information, and to sign-up for the interactive boating safety course, is available on the Boating Safety web page.

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

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