DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest commercial waterman for numerous shellfish and boating violations

DELAWARE CITY – Following an investigation into illegal activity on the Delaware River, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a commercial waterman from Sussex County on Sept. 20 for more than 600 shellfish and boating violations near Delaware City.

Shawn P. Moore, 40, of Georgetown, was charged with 322 counts of failure to tend commercial crab pots within 72 hours; 171 counts of improperly-marked commercial crab pot license number on buoy; 121 counts of over-the-limit commercial crab pots; two counts of crabbing from a vessel not displaying a proper color panel; and one count each of commercial crabbing under a crab pot number not assigned by DNREC; failure to have a commercial license in his possession; no fire extinguisher; no sound-producing device; and reckless operation of a vessel.

Moore was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was released on his own recognizance pending a future appearance in the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas.

Citizens are encouraged to report fisheries violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 800-523-3336.

Media contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9086 or 302-354-1386; or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 48, No. 258

DNREC Secretary Garvin signs Emergency Order making changes in minimum size, limits and season dates for tautog

DOVER – DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today signed an Emergency Order making changes in Delaware’s tautog fishing regulations that go into effect July 1. The changes were adopted through an emergency regulation due to insufficient time to adopt the regulations through the standard regulatory process without significantly impacting Delaware’s tautog fisheries.

The regulations increase the tautog minimum size limit to 16 inches, adjust the open seasons to July 1 through Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 through May 15, and reduce the possession limit to four tautog per day during the new open seasons. The adjusted seasons allow Delaware’s commercial and recreational fishermen earlier access to tautog fishing than the previous July 17 reopening of the fishery and provide 48 additional tautog-fishing days annually.

The Emergency Secretary’s Order can be found at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders_Regulations.aspx.

The new regulations established by the emergency order bring Delaware into compliance with Amendment 1 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for tautog.

For more information about tautog season, call DNREC’s Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries.

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

Vol. 48, No. 173