DOVER – If you are a student aged 12 to 15 with an interest in natural resources and law enforcement, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are once again offering their popular and successful summer Youth Academies – with the deadline for applying extended to Sunday, June 30.

The Youth Academy is a five-day program designed to teach youth about boating safety, hunter safety, and how to protect our natural resources, while looking to nurture the relationship between DNREC Natural Resources Police officers and the community. Participants in the Youth Academy attend tuition-free.

This year’s offerings include two Basic Youth Academies and one Advanced Youth Academy:

Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy (Kent County) – Monday through Friday, July 8-12, Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901

Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy (New Castle County) – Monday through Friday, July 15-19, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720

Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy (New Castle County) – Tuesday through Saturday, July 23-27, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720

The Basic Youth Academies are each limited to the first 20 qualified applicants, with priority given to those who have not already completed a hunter safety course or boating safety course when the academy begins. Applications must include a 250-word essay on why the applicant wants to take part in the academy and what Delaware’s natural resources mean to them. Students who complete the program will receive both their hunter and boating safety certifications.

The Advanced Youth Academy is for those who wish to continue learning what it is like to be a Natural Resources Police officer, as well as to learn additional outdoor skills. The Advanced Youth Academy is open to youth ages 12 to 15 years old that have either completed the Basic Youth Academy or have already earned their hunter safety and boating safety certifications. An overnight camping excursion is included and parent/guardian participation is mandatory for this portion.

The Advanced Youth Academy is limited to the first 15 qualified applicants, with priority given to those who have already completed the Basic Youth Academy. Applications must include a 500-word essay on either what the applicant learned from the Basic Youth Academy or, if they did not attend, what the applicant learned when they took their hunter and boating safety courses.

Applications are available online at de.gov/fwenforcement and at DNREC’s licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

Opportunities to support the Youth Academies are available. Without the generous support and donations from the business community, private organizations, and individuals, the youth academies would not be successful.

For more information regarding the Youth Academy, please contact Captain Brian Pollock at 302-365-8703 or email brian.pollock@delaware.gov.

Media Contacts: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167, or 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

DOVER – For a safer Memorial Day holiday weekend, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that drinking and boating don’t mix. Boat operators who have consumed alcohol put themselves, their passengers, and other boaters in Delaware waters at risk, and boat operators found with blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher will face charges for operating under the influence (OUI) in violation of Delaware and federal laws.

Marine patrols are increased over the holiday weekend to ensure safe boating and public safety. Boat operators found at or above the legal limit will find their voyage terminated, will be arrested, and may have their vessel impounded. Anyone charged with boating under the influence also can face fines and potential jail time.

According to national statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol use is a leading known contributing factor to fatal boating accidents. In 2017, the most recent year for which U.S. Coast Guard statistics are available, In 2017, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 275 boat accidents involved alcohol use, resulting in 102 deaths and 227 injuries nationally.

The best way to minimize the risk of an accident is to make the wiser choice – don’t drink and boat. Environmental stressors aboard a boat – such as constant motion, heat, sun glare, and dehydration – all contribute to the negative effects of any amount of alcohol. Because of this, having a non-drinking, designated boat operator is strongly recommended.

Other tips for recreational boaters to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend include:

• Make sure children 12 and younger wear life jackets while underway as required by law.
• Wear your life jacket and encourage all your passengers 13 and older to also wear them.
• Observe all “Slow No Wake” areas.
• Maintain a lookout and keep a safe distance from other vessels.
• Check navigation lights and make sure to turn them on when operating at night.
• Carry your boating education card and all required safety equipment appropriate for your size vessel.
• Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are considered vessels, and passengers are required to have a life jacket on board and carry a whistle or other sound-producing device. If you are out after sunset, a flashlight is also required.

For access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook and other safe boating information, visit the Delaware Boating Safety web pages, or contact Delaware Boating Safety & Education Coordinator Sgt. Brooke Mitchell at 302-739-9913 or brooke.mitchell@delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-382-7167, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Reminder for the week: Have a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend; Don’t drink and boat!

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 made 2,300 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public between May 13 and May 19, issuing 25 citations. Officers responded to 56 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 Actions

On May 19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers in Sussex County responded to and are investigating a fatal boat incident that occurred on Rehoboth Bay near Rehoboth Beach. The following press release was issued regarding the accident: DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating fatal boat accident in Sussex County.

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

Fisheries Conservation: No Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (6), unlicensed fishing (2), and possession of undersized white perch (1).

Boating & Boating Safety: Operating a personal watercraft without required life jackets (2), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), and no boat registration card on board (1).
Public Safety: Driving faster than the posted speed limit (1).

Other: Operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (2)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (7)*, and state boat ramp parking violation (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 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 de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters this holiday weekend that alcohol has many physical effects that directly threaten safety and well-being on the water.

When a boater or passenger drinks, the following occur:

• Cognitive abilities and judgment deteriorate, making it harder to process information, assess situations, and make good choices.
• Physical performance is impaired – evidenced by balance problems, lack of coordination, and increased reaction time.
• Vision is affected, including decreased peripheral vision, reduced depth perception, decreased night vision, poor focus, and difficulty in distinguishing colors (particularly red and green).
• Inner ear disturbances that can make it impossible for a person who falls into the water to distinguish up from down.
• Alcohol creates a physical sensation of warmth – which may prevent a person in cold water from getting out before hypothermia sets in.

Make the right decision, don’t drink and boat!

To report boating violations please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24 hour dispatch line at 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336.

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

Partnership announced to provide loaner life jackets to boaters

DOVER – With the 2019 summer season and ideal weather ahead, many boaters will soon be heading out on the water. DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Office of Boating Safety & Education encourages boaters to practice safe boating, not just during National Safe Boating Week from May 18-24 – but throughout the year.

Delaware, which consistently has one of the lowest boating accident rates in the country, had 36 reported boating accidents and two fatalities last year. This year, there have been two reported boating accidents to date and no related fatalities in the state.

Statistics support the vital role of wearing life jackets in keeping boaters safe. In 2017, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 76 percent of all boating-related fatalities nationwide were drowning victims, with 84.5 percent of those victims not wearing life jackets, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

To further promote boaters to wear life jackets, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police will be kicking off a Life Jacket Loaner Program in partnership with Sea Tow Foundation, starting May 20. As an alternative to ending someone’s voyage on Delaware waterways when found to not have the required life jackets, officers will have loaner life jackets in sizes from Infant to Adult XL onboard their patrol vessels for the public to borrow and return.

“We’re excited to partner with the Sea Tow Foundation to make this Life Jacket Loaner Program available to boaters in our area,” said Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Chief Drew Aydelotte. “This will help ensure that boaters of all ages have proper-fitting life jackets, which will go a long way toward keeping people safe while they’re out enjoying the beautiful waterways of Delaware.”

For more information, including Delaware’s boating safety course schedule and the online Delaware Boating Handbook, click Delaware Boating Safety, or contact Boating Safety & Education Coordinator Sgt. Brooke Mitchell at 302-739-9913 or email brooke.mitchell@delaware.gov.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Media contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-382-7167, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 49, No. 125

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Reminder for the week: Wearing life jackets saves lives in boating emergencies

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 April 29-May 5 made 2,584 contacts with anglers, boaters, hunters, and the general public, issuing 40 citations. Officers responded to 63 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 April 30, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered questions regarding hunting, fishing and boating, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the annual Delaware Army National Guard Earth Day Expo at the Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center in New Castle.

• On May 4, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered questions regarding hunting, fishing and boating, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the annual White Clay Creek Fest at White Clay Creek State Park near Newark.

• On May 4, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers provided security at the Grain H2O Orange Crush 5K held on the Michael N. Castle Trail on the C&D Canal Conservation Area near Delaware City.

• On May 5, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered questions regarding hunting, fishing and boating, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the Tri-State Bird Rescue Open House in Newark.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

• On May 3, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Steven Robertson, 59, of New Castle, for one count each of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended or revoked license on the C&D Canal Conservation Area. Robertson was processed at Troop 9 in Odessa, where he was issued a summons for a mandatory appearance and released.

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

Fisheries Conservation: No Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (5), unlicensed fishing (4)*, and possession of undersized striped bass (1).

Boating & Boating Safety: No boating safety certificate (1)* and no boat registration card in possession (1)*.

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana – civil (8)*, passing a stopped school bus (1), and driving under the influence (1)*.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (13)*, littering on a state wildlife area (1)*, driving with a suspended or revoked license (3), and operating a motor vehicle without proof of insurance (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 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 reminds spring boaters and anglers of the importance of carrying and wearing life jackets when boating on our waterways. In Delaware, life jackets are the law – and the law requires that owners/operators of recreational vessels carry one readily accessible life jacket for each person on board, and that children age 12 and younger wear a life jacket while a vessel is underway on Delaware waters. Life jackets are also required to be worn by all operators and passengers of personal watercraft, commonly known as jet skis.

Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach for and put on a stowed life jacket. Many lives have been saved by boaters who did the responsible thing and wore a life jacket. Browse real-life accounts of boaters who have been “Saved by the Jacket” here.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, including access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook, please click Delaware Boating Safety, or contact the Office of Boating Safety & Education at 302-739-9915.

Media contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913.

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.

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