Reminder for the week: Boaters, jet ski operators should wear engine shut off safety lanyard

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’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between July 15-21 made 3,661 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 46 citations. Officers responded to 81 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A 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 15-19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers held their annual New Castle County Basic Youth Academy attended by 21 participants at the Ommelanden Hunter Education Center near New Castle.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crabs (2), possession of undersized striped bass (1), and unlicensed fishing (2).

Boating & 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 (4)*, water ski without required life jacket (1), negligent operation of a motor vessel (1), no fire extinguisher on board (1), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (1), no boating safety certification (2), failure to have vessel registration card in possession (1), no boat ramp certificate (1), and obstructing use of a public boat ramp (1).

Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia (1), no child restraint (1), and passenger failure to occupy seat (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (17), dumping on a state wildlife area (2)*, excessive speed on a state wildlife area (1)*, unattended vehicle (2), operating an unregistered motor vehicle (1), and loitering (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. The Public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boat operators that most motor boats and jet skis come equipped by the manufacturer with an important safety device, an emergency engine cut-off switch. This safety device is designed to shut off the engine if the operator becomes separated from the proper operating position.

A lanyard is attached to the engine cut-off switch and the operator’s wrist or personal flotation device (PFD). The switch shuts off the engine if the operator becomes separated from the motor boat controls or falls off the jet ski. If you do not wear the lanyard and become separated from the motor boat controls, your vessel could become a run-away and cause serious injury or death to those in the boat or in the water. If your vessel does not come equipped with an engine cut-off switch, you should have one installed.

Operators of jet skis, also known as personal watercraft (PWC), are required by Delaware law to wear the emergency engine cut-off switch on a wrist lanyard at all times while operating.

To report boating emergencies or violations please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24-hour 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 Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913, or 302-382-7167.

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