Reminder for the week: Practice safe boating, including wearing your lifejacket

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, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between July 11-17 made 1,642 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 311 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 54 complaints and issued 24 citations, one of which was related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

An incident of note:

• On July 16, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Robert S. Osbourne, 48, of Avondale, Pa., for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (OUI) and no navigation lights near Indian River Inlet. Osbourne was given a mandatory appearance at Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (3)*, possession of undersized blue crabs (3), possession of undersized summer flounder (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (2), negligent operation of a vessel (1), no lifejacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2), failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (1), operating an unregistered vessel (3), failure to maintain a proper lookout (1), no boating education certificate (4), no fire extinguisher (1), and no navigation lights (1).

Public Safety: Clamming in an area under seasonal closure (1).

* Citation issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area: unlicensed fishing (1).

A DNREC press release was issued related to this week’s citations: Maryland man cited for OUI after boating accident near Fenwick Island.

Are you AWARE?
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters to practice safe boating, including use of lifejackets. Delaware law requires that all personal watercraft (PWC) operators and all children 12 years old and younger aboard a vessel of any type wear a lifejacket while underway. The law does not require wearing a lifejacket for those age 13 to adult on vessels other than PWCs; however, boat owners/operators are required to carry a readily-accessible lifejacket for each person aboard a vessel.

“Vessel operators are responsible to make sure that children aboard their boat are wearing lifejackets – and they can set the example by also wearing one,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Although the law does not require ages 13 and older to wear a lifejacket except for personal watercraft, we strongly recommend lifejacket use by everyone aboard a vessel in Delaware waters, especially anyone with limited swimming skills. It’s a smart choice that can prevent an unnecessary tragedy.”

The same requirements that apply to vessels also apply to paddleboards, canoes and kayaks operating on Delaware waters. All paddleboards, canoes and kayaks must have a wearable lifejacket and a whistle or other sound-producing device aboard and readily accessible. “Regardless of the size or type of vessel, if you fall overboard or capsize, stay with your vessel for a better chance of being found sooner,” Sgt. McDerby added.

Boaters also should ensure their vessel is ready for a trouble-free day enjoying Delaware’s waterways by performing a pre-departure check. Before leaving home, you should have:

• All current required licenses and registrations, including boat registration, boating safety certificate, boat ramp certificate if required and fishing license(s);
• Enough lifejackets for everyone on board, including children age 12 or younger who are required by Delaware law to wear them; for vessels 16 feet or more in length, a throwable life preserver is also required;
• Plenty of water to stay hydrated and sunscreen to protect against sunburn, which can be severe on the water.
• Checked the local weather forecast;
• Checked the vessel for working navigation lights, steering and throttle controls;
• Checked its oil, fuel and fluid levels;
• Checked for fuel leaks, including hose clamps and connections;
• Drained all water from the engine compartment or bilge, and replaced and secured the bilge plug;
• A fully-charged engine battery, emergency flares and a fire extinguisher;
• A marine radio and/or a fully-charged cell phone in a secure pocket and sealed in a plastic bag; and
• Left a float plan with a friend, family member or local marina.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

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.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 268

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife invites anglers and photography enthusiasts to enter the 2016 Delaware Fishing Photo Contest. The winning photo will be featured either on the cover or in the 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide to be published early next year.

A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff will be looking for photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Fishing with Family or Friends,” by depicting anglers enjoying fishing in the great outdoors with their family or friends. Judges also will be looking at technical criteria including resolution, clarity and composition.

“The photography contest is a great chance for anglers to showcase and share their fishing adventures with other anglers,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “The theme helps reinforce and capture the fun of a shared outdoor fishing experience.”

The contest is open to Delaware residents of all ages, with a maximum of three entries per person. To be eligible, photographs must have been taken in Delaware. Portrait orientation is preferred; landscape photos, if chosen among contest winners, may be cropped for presentation.

The contest opened Sunday, May 1. Entries may be mailed to DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Photo Contest, Attention: Jennifer Childears, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by Saturday, Oct. 31, and must include a completed and signed entry form and photo release form if the photograph contains images of children.

Photos must be submitted as 8 x 10 photo quality prints, with no frames or mats and no markings or signatures on the front or back. Winning entries must be made available in a digital version with resolution of 300 dpi or greater (when blown up to 8 x 10 inches).

Normal processing of RAW image files, minimal cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable. HDR and focus stacking are permitted as long as manipulation is disclosed upon entry. Nothing should be added to the image or, aside from dust spots, taken away. The entrant must hold all rights to the photograph and must not infringe on the rights of any other person. Images that involve unlawful harm to fish or damage to the environment should not be submitted and will not be accepted. Entries will not be returned.

For more information, including entry forms, please visit Fish & Wildlife photo contest or contact Jennifer Childears at 302-739-9910, or email jennifer.childears@delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 267

DELAWARE SEASHORE STATE PARK – Today at the Indian River Marina with DNREC Secretary David Small, legislators, and members of the Delaware Waterways Management and Financing Advisory Committee looking on, Governor Jack Markell signed legislation that establishes a dedicated and sustainable funding  source for the state’s waterway management operations. Sponsored by Senator Gerald Hocker and Representatives Ronald Gray and Ruth Briggs King, Senate Bill 261 allocates increased revenue from the state’s boat registration program to a newly-created Waterway Management Fund for the exclusive support of Delaware’s waterway management operations, as directed by DNREC, to keep channels open and safe for boaters.

“Improving the navigation of Delaware’s waterways supports our economy and tourism, as well as commercial and recreational fishing,” said Gov. Markell. “With almost 60,000 boats registered in Delaware, this legislation is a critical step toward improving the safety and access of our waterways for the boating public. I want to thank the bill sponsors, the Delaware Waterway Management and Financing Advisory Committee, and DNREC for their work in establishing dedicated funding for waterway management operations.”

Fishing is integral to state and local economies. According to American Sportfishing Association, the economic value of recreational fishing in Delaware is almost $150 million annually, while the commercial fishing industry’s annual value is estimated at about $10 million. However, commercial and recreational boaters continue experiencing difficulties in navigating the state’s waterways due to the buildup of silt and sediment along main channels.

“This legislation is essential in helping DNREC achieve its mission of keeping Delaware waterways safe and navigable for boaters,” said DNREC Sec. Small. “The responsibility for dredging and channel marking in federally authorized waterways has fallen to DNREC in recent years, but during an era of challenging state budgets, funding has not kept pace with need. Having a dedicated revenue stream will be a great boost to our waterway management program.”

DNREC estimates the increase in boating registration fees will generate approximately $1.3 million annually. Priorities for dredging in the state include many channels in the Inland Bays where boating activity is the highest. Massey’s Ditch, connecting Rehoboth and Indian River Bays, the Lewes & Rehoboth Canal, Herring Creek, Love Creek, and Whites Creek are all in need of dredging. The Massey’s project is estimated to cost $4 million, the Lewes & Rehoboth Canal project is estimated at $2.4 million, and Herring Creek project is estimated at $2.4 million. Planning and engineering costs for Love Creek and Whites Creek are estimated at $700,000.

Since 1970 DNREC has dredged waterways to maintain adequate depths in them. Over the years, waterway management activities have been conducted solely with General Fund and Bond Bill appropriations provided by the state legislature. Due to substantial reductions in federal funding and assistance, DNREC is now responsible for the dredging and maintenance of all but three of the 20 federal channels in Delaware, as well as having responsibility for additional waterway activities, including navigational channel marking and removal of derelict vessels and debris.

To address the funding needs, the Delaware Waterway Management and Financing Advisory Committee was created in 2014 by Senate Resolution 64 and directed to develop recommendations for sustainable and dedicated funding for waterway management activities statewide. The Committee was comprised of a broad range of interests, including legislators, recreational boaters, commercial watermen, fishing interests, dock and marina owners, and business owners with staff and support provided by DNREC. In 2015 the committee recommended increasing boat registration fees as a funding source for waterway management operations, which led to Senate Bill 261.

Sen. Hocker (R-Ocean View) said, “With tourism being so important to this state, it is a must that we do all we can to keep our bays in the best condition possible for our boaters, for both recreational and commercial activities. Fishing, clamming, crabbing, and waterskiing are just a few examples of why it’s important to keep our channels open and properly marked. As a result of the U.S. Coast Guard turning this responsibility over to the states, a task force was formed for the purpose of coming up with a revenue source necessary for dredging operations. The 148^th General Assembly passed legislation, SB 261, to ensure a dedicated revenue source of an estimated $1.3 million to be used for our channel dredging and marking. This represents about 1/3 of the monies needed annually.”

Rep. Gray (R-Selbyville), who served on the Delaware Waterways Management and Financing Advisory Committee, stated that “This is a very good day for the people of Sussex County and, in particular, the residents of the 38^th District. Our committee spent months looking at a lot of different options on how to fund the much-needed dredging of our waterways. Establishing a dedicated funding source from revenue generated by people who use the waterways made the most sense. I am confident that this will enable our state to continue cleaning waterways in order to keep boaters and other recreational users as safe as possible.”

Rep. Briggs King (R-Georgetown) said she was “thrilled to be part of today’s bill signing. Ensuring our waterways are clean for safe boating and recreational use is essential to our tourism industry in Sussex County, as well as to our residents’ quality of life. Channel dredging, especially in parts of my district, cannot start soon enough. This funding source will go a long way to help address the serious and very legitimate concerns that many of us have been hearing over the years from our boating community.”

Highlights of Senate Bill 261:

• Doubles current boat registration fees, with the increased revenue allocated to the Waterway Management Fund.

• The remaining half of total boat registration revenue will continue to be used to administer the boat registration program and for boating education and safety.

• Requires that Waterway Management Fund revenues are used exclusively to support navigational channel dredging and marking and debris removal from waterways
• Increases the current service charges being retained by licensing agents to offset the costs of processing boat registration and boat ramp certificates.

The legislation becomes effective January 1, 2017.

Contact: Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 265

-30-

FENWICK ISLAND – A Maryland man was charged early Sunday morning by DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (OUI) following a boating accident that left him clinging to his capsized 28-foot cabin cruiser for about two hours in the water off Cape Windsor, west of Fenwick Island.

The boat’s operator, Jeffrey S. Collier, 54, of Bel Air, Md. was brought to shore by Roxana Fire Company’s marine unit after Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit and the fire company responded to a 911 call placed from the headwaters of Big Assawoman Bay about 11:15 p.m. Saturday. Collier was cited by Natural Resources Police for OUI, negligent operation of a vessel and failure to maintain a proper lookout and released, pending an appearance in Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.

Collier was alone aboard the vessel, with no injuries reported. His boat was recovered Sunday morning by a commercial salvage company. The accident remains under investigation by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.

Boaters navigating Delaware waters are reminded that operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher is in violation of Delaware and federal laws. Boat operators found to be at or above the limit will find their voyage terminated, will be cited and may have their vessel impounded. Boat operators found to be under the influence also can face fines and potential jail time. For more information, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

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.

Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 260

LEWES (July 15, 2016) –DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body (RPB) invite ocean stakeholders and the interested public to attend an open house to consider a draft Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan. The open house is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 at The Virden Retreat Center, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958. The program will begin with a brief presentation on the draft plan, followed by a poster session and opportunities for questions and comment. The agenda can be found on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) website by clicking here.

“The draft Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan represents nearly three years of deliberations and stakeholder outreach by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body in developing ocean policy for the region,” said Sarah W. Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Program Administrator, who along with DNREC Fisheries Administrator John Clark, is the state’s representative on the RPB. “With many people in Delaware depending on the ocean for its vast resources, the RPB is providing an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to learn about the plan and give comments that will be considered for the final document that will be submitted to the federal government.”

The draft plan outlines a series of actions on how federal and state agencies, tribes and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council can better collaborate to ensure healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems and sustainable ocean uses in the Mid-Atlantic, including state and federal waters off Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The draft Plan can be found on the RPB website at http://www.boem.gov/MidA-New/. The public comment period closes on September 6, 2016.

The draft plan supports improved government coordination and increased stakeholder participation to ensure healthy ocean ecosystems and sustainable ocean uses. The healthy ocean ecosystem goal promotes ocean health, functionality, and integrity through conservation, protection, enhancement, and restoration. Sustainable ocean uses require planning to provide for existing and emerging ocean uses that minimize conflicts, improve effectiveness of government, and support economic growth.

The draft plan has been developed by the RPB with the support of MARCO. Established in 2009 by the Governors of Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, MARCO provides a forum for the coastal Mid-Atlantic states to collaborate on shared regional priorities related to marine habitats, renewable offshore energy, climate change adaptation, and ocean water quality.

Last January, Delaware Coastal Programs hosted the MARCO forum on scientific data that was used to develop the draft Ocean Action Plan for the region. The content of the plan is the culmination of research, coordination and planning through contracted projects that included marine ecological data, human use data and the Regional Ocean Assessment.

President Obama’s National Ocean Policy mandated that each U.S. ocean and coastal region develop a plan to guide ocean use, manage resources, and utilize the principles of marine spatial planning for increased coordination across all levels of government. Additional information about the RPB may be found at http://www.boem.gov/Mid-Atlantic-Regional-Planning-Body/.

Contact: Sarah W.Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Programs, 302-739-9283; John Clark, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9914; or Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 258