DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will host an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) public hearing on a draft addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 6 in the DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

The draft addendum proposes modifying the current plan’s bycatch allowance provision by allowing two licensed commercial fishermen to harvest up to 12,000 pounds of menhaden bycatch when working from the same vessel and fishing with stationary, multi‐species gear, limited to one vessel trip per day. Bycatch represents less than 2 percent of the total coastwide landings.

The practice of two licensed commercial fishermen working together from the same vessel to harvest Atlantic menhaden primarily occurs in the Chesapeake Bay pound net fishery. This practice enables the fishermen to pool resources for fuel and crew. However, the practice is currently constrained by the plan’s bycatch allowance provision, which includes a 6,000 pound per vessel per day limit. The ASMFC is seeking comment on whether the provision should be revised to accommodate the interests of fixed‐gear fishermen who work together, as authorized by the states and jurisdictions in which they fish.

The intent of the draft addendum is to add flexibility to one element of the bycatch allowance provision while the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board, of which Delaware is a member, prepares to address menhaden management more comprehensively through the development of an additional addendum to the plan over the next two years.

Anglers and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the draft addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The draft addendum is posted at http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/573dd50fAtlMenhadenDraftAddendumI_PublicComment_May2016.pdf or on the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input.

Public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, July 11, 2016 and should be sent to Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite A‐N, Arlington, VA 22201; faxed to 703-842-0741 or emailed to mware@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum I).

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

Vol. 46, No. 246

DOVER – With many boaters heading out on the water for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police advise “steady as she goes” for practicing safe boating on Delaware waterways. “We need everyone on our waterways to be alert, use common sense and avoid actions that will put themselves, their passengers and other boaters at risk,” said Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Chief Robert Legates.

Recent statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard show the top five primary contributing factors for boating accidents are operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and alcohol use. With these factors in mind, Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police boating safety coordinator, offered some tips for safe boating:

Safety-check your vessel and equipment before getting underway
Preparations for putting your boat in the water each season should begin with servicing the motor or engine to ensure it is in good operating condition. Before heading out, always check engine oil levels and make sure you have enough gasoline in your tank, as well as making sure all navigational lights are working.

“Unexpected engine failure or running out of gas can strand you and your passengers – and this rarely happens at a convenient time or place,” Sgt. McDerby said. “Add nightfall, an approaching summer storm, rough seas or other hazards, and you place yourself and your passengers in danger.”

Additional items to check include the appropriate number of life jackets and a fully-charged cell phone and/or marine radio, as well as the following safety equipment: flares, a whistle or sound-producing device, and a fire extinguisher.

Wear a lifejacket
In 2015, the number of boating accident fatalities nationwide totaled 626, including 22 children under the age of 13, according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics. Where cause of death was known, 76 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims when lifejacket usage was known, 85 percent were not wearing a lifejacket.

“Like seatbelts in automobiles, we know without question that lifejackets save lives. Delaware law requires that children age 12 and younger wear a life jacket while underway in any vessel on Delaware waters,” Sgt. McDerby said, noting that no children age 12 or younger have died as a result of drowning in Delaware since this law was passed in 1991.

“Though lifejackets are not legally required to be worn by adults, they should also wear them, especially anyone with limited swimming skills,” Sgt. McDerby continued. “Boating accidents can happen very fast – and there’s no time to reach for a stowed lifejacket and put it on.”

While operating a vessel, stay alert and keep a sharp lookout
When operating an automobile, safe driving includes keeping your eyes on the road and avoiding distractions that take your attention elsewhere.
“The same applies to operating a vessel,” Sgt. McDerby said. “At all times, boaters need to watch where they are going, looking for other vessels and anything in the water that poses a hazard or redirects vessels.”

Things to look out for include: swimmers, water skiers and smaller vessels such as kayaks or jet skis; floating hazards such as large branches or logs in the water; shallow areas where your vessel can become grounded; and directional channel markers or other signage.

Watch your speed
As with land vehicles, boaters need to remember that the faster you drive your boat, the more you reduce your reaction time and increase your chances of being involved in an accident.

“Operating a vessel at excessive speed poses a hazard to you and your passengers as well as everyone else on the water around you, especially in areas with a lot of boat traffic – a common occurrence on popular waterways, especially during busy summer holiday weekends,” Sgt. McDerby said. Boaters should take particular care to observe posted slow-no-wake areas, he added.

Don’t drink and boat
According to Coast Guard statistics, alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents and was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of the 626 boating-related fatalities reported nationwide in 2015, with 306 accidents resulting in 122 deaths and 258 injuries.

“Drinking while boating is a choice. The best way to minimize the risk of an accident is to make the wise choice – don’t drink and boat,” said Sgt. McDerby, noting that boaters should plan ahead to have a non-drinking designated boat operator aboard if alcohol is being consumed.

While it is not illegal for recreational boat operators to consume alcohol, the same blood alcohol limit used to measure intoxication in automobile drivers applies to boat operators: 0.08 or above is legally intoxicated. Sgt. McDerby also noted that boat operators above the limit put themselves and their passengers at risk, and those found operating under the influence face fines and potential jail time.

Delaware’s emphasis on boating safety education

Taking a boating safety course to improve your skills can help reduce the chances of an accident. Coast Guard statistics show that in states where instructional data was available, 71 percent of reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.

“Last year, we had one boating-related fatality and 25 reportable boating accidents in Delaware. We’d like to see the number of accidents go down,” Chief Legates said, noting that to date this year, Delaware has had 10 reported boating accidents and no fatalities.

Under Delaware law, all persons born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 must successfully complete a boating safety course in order to operate a boat in Delaware waters, including personal watercraft. “We recommend that everyone who is going to operate a boat in Delaware waters take a safety course first, regardless of their age,” Sgt. McDerby said.

Delaware’s 8-hour basic boating safety course, which fulfills Delaware’s mandatory boating safety class requirement, is offered in multiple locations statewide in one to four sessions. An online version of the course also is offered. Upon completing the course, boaters receive a boating safety certificate, with those required to take the course having to carry the certificate while boating as proof of course completion.

For more information, including the boating safety class schedule, access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook and other boating information, visit Delaware Boating Safety, or contact Sgt. John McDerby at 302-739-9913 or by email at john.mcderby@delaware.gov.

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

DOVER – Climate change impacts are a growing concern for Delaware’s municipalities and communities, and local governments often wonder where they can find funding to help them adapt to or combat threats of severe weather events and enhance resiliency against climate change and sea level rise. As of today with the unveiling of a new database developed by the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, with financial support from DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs, local governments and communities now have a resource to help them identify potential funding.

Financial assistance programs are available to support implementation of projects to prepare for and adapt to these severe weather threats and climate change, but the programs and resources allocated by them can be difficult to find and often go unknown about or unused. Until now Delaware municipalities might have missed out on opportunities to claim a share of these resources in the fight for resiliency against the impacts of climate change.

But with support from DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs, UD’s Institute for Public Administration conducted an exhaustive search of programs that financially support implementation of resiliency projects in Delaware. This information has been compiled into an accessible and intuitive online searchable database to benefit the state’s towns and communities. “Our intention in partnering with the university was to make it easier for municipalities in our state to find funding that will help enhance the resilience of their communities,” said Sarah W. Cooksey, administrator, Delaware Coastal Programs. “In creating the database, we made a one-stop shop for municipal leaders to find appropriate assistance that can fund projects to protect their community infrastructure, citizens’ private property and natural resources in the face of climate change impacts.”

While planning and technical assistance programs were identified and included, IPA’s search prioritized financial assistance programs that support the implementation of high-cost activities such as infrastructure improvements, facility retrofitting, construction and land acquisition, she said. Database users can also use a quick sorting feature to filter programs by type of assistance offered (grant, loan, etc.), project scope (land acquisition, energy efficiency retrofits, etc.), amount of financial assistance available, and whether or not matching funds are required.

“This database is a great tool for Delaware municipalities looking to fund resilience-building projects in their communities,” said Jerome Lewis, director of UD’s Institute for Public Administration. “Many jurisdictions need financial assistance to upgrade their infrastructure and make the necessary adaptations. This user-friendly database of funding opportunities greatly facilitates those efforts.”

The easy-to-use website lists resources that support implementation of climate change adaptation and resilient community development in the following categories:

• Disaster preparedness
• Disaster recovery
• Education
• Emergency aid
• Energy conservation
• Habitat restoration
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Planning
• Property acquisition/ easements
• Renewable energy
• Species protection
• Storm-proofing retrofits
• Stormwater management
• Vulnerability assessment
• Wetland protection

Online access: The Delaware Database for Funding Resilient Communities can be accessed from any computer, tablet or mobile device at www.sppa.udel.edu/research-public-service/ddfrc

YouTube tutorial: This three-minute video provides step-by-step instructions for using the search tool.

Provide Input: To keep the database current and relevant to grant funding, it must be continually updated as new financial assistance programs emerge and others are retired. If you wish to see a relevant program added to the Delaware Database for Funding Resilient Communities – or if existing entries require new content or contain errors – please contact the Institute for Public Administration by emailing resiliency@udel.edu.

The Delaware Coastal Programs (DCP) is a cooperative program between the State of Delaware and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The DCP helps manage Delaware’s federal coastal zone and balance the use and protection of its resources through the combined efforts of the Delaware Coastal Management Program and Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve

The University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA), a center within the School of Public Policy & Administration, addresses the policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development, and the education of tomorrow’s leaders. Visit IPA online at www.ipa.udel.edu.

Media Contact: Kelly Valencik, Delaware Coastal Programs, 302-739-9283

Vol. 46, No. 187

REHOBOTH BEACH – The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is seeking volunteers and boats for the 12th Annual Inland Bays Cleanup from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, June 11. DNREC once again is lending support through the Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, along with the Division of Parks & Recreation.

This year’s cleanup will take place at Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp at the end of Long Neck Road, where registration will be held, and will concentrate on the Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay areas. Volunteers should dress to get dirty and be prepared for cooler conditions on the water as well as wet walking conditions on land. Rubber boots are also suggested. Those who have access to lifejackets may want to bring one, as they are required aboard any boat used during the cleanup. Lifejackets also will be provided.

Last year’s event drew 75 volunteers who filled a 30-yard donated roll-off dumpster with debris including soda bottles and cans, tires, derelict crab pots and large quantities of docking lumber. This year’s event will have a focus on recycling, with many pieces of large debris anticipated in the wake of the two major coastal storms last fall and winter.

Advance volunteer sign-up is requested, as lunch and t-shirts will be provided to participants. At the event, volunteers will need to sign a waiver, with parents or guardians completing the form for participating children age 15 and younger. This event is not recommended for children under the age of 10.

To volunteer or for more information, please contact Bob Collins, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, at 302-226-8105 or by email at jamesfarm@inlandbays.org.

In addition to the Center for the Inland Bays and DNREC, sponsors for this year’s Inland Bays Cleanup include the Dewey Beach Lions Club, Waste Industries USA, Inc., State Senator Ernie Lopez and the DSWA Community Cleanup Initiative.

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

Vol. 46, No. 178

DOVER – Residents of Bayshore communities and other interested parties are invited to attend a DNREC public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Carlisle Fire Company, 615 Front NW Front Street, Milford, DE 19963, to hear the results of a new engineering evaluation studying drainage issues along Delaware’s central Bayshore area. The meeting will be hosted by DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship, Drainage Section, and State Senator Gary Simpson (R-18th District, Milford) chair of the Delaware Bay Beach Work Group.

The Delaware Bay Beach Work Group was formed for the purpose of examining beach erosion, marsh drainage, flooding and related issues in the Bayshore communities of Pickering Beach, Kitts Hummock, South Bowers Beach, Slaughter Beach, Prime Hook Beach, Broadkill Beach and Lewes Beach, and making recommendations for a path forward to deal with these issues.

Work group members included state legislators representing these communities, DNREC shoreline and waterway staff and other local, state and federal officials. Their recommendations included the engineering evaluation, for which DNREC contracted with AECOM/URS Corporation, a national research and engineering firm with local offices in Delaware and Maryland.

The Delaware Bay Beaches Coastal Drainage Engineering Evaluation incorporated comments from residents at public meetings held in each community, documentation and investigation of issues and proposed solutions. Those attending the meeting will hear details about the evaluation, along with drainage design work and construction projects under consideration, and will have the opportunity for public comment.

For more information, visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/shoreline/pages/delawarebaybeachworkgroup.aspx.

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

Vol. 45, No. 413