Reminder for the week: Observe safety precautions when towing water skiers, tubers, and knee-boarders

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 Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between July 23-29 made 2,563 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 98 citations. Officers responded to 85 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased 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 27, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and answered hunting, fishing, and boating questions for kids attending the Brandywine Creek State Park’s summer camp. The campers were then taken on a police boat ride.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incidents of note:

• On July 23, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Anthony F. Lewis III, 42, of Townsend with nine counts of improperly marked commercial crab pots and 11 counts of failure to tend commercial crab pots at least once within required 72-hour timeframe on the Delaware Bay. Lewis was arraigned at New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 7, where he pled guilty, and was fined $174, including court costs, and released.
• On July 28, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers in Sussex County responded to, and are investigating a fatal PWC accident that occurred near Fenwick Island. The following press releases were issued in regards to the accident:
  DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating fatal personal watercraft accident in Sussex County
  UPDATE: Victim identified Saturday’s fatal personal watercraft accident in Sussex County

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crab (19), unlicensed fishing (4)*, no F.I.N. (2), possession of prohibited shark species (3), unlawful possession of horseshoe crabs (1), unlawful to remove oysters from tributaries (4), trespass to fish (4), and possession of undersized white perch (8)*. Commercial: Improperly marked crab pots (9) and failure to tend crab pots at least one within required 72-hour timeframe (11).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating an unregistered vessel (1), negligent operation of a vessel (1), failure to observe slow no wake (2), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2), no boating safety certificate (4), and operating a personal watercraft without required life jacket (2).

Public Safety: Leaving the scene of an accident (1), driving with a suspended or revoked license (1), reckless driving (1), operating a motor vehicle at an unreasonable speed (1), possession of drug paraphernalia marijuana related (2), and target shooting on a state wildlife area (2)*.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (11)* and unattended motor vehicle in a state wildlife area (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. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters of some important safety regulations when towing water skiers, tubers and knee-boarders:

• Requires at least three participants – the water skier, the boat operator and a competent observer
• Personal watercraft (PWC) used for towing skiers, tubers or knee boarders must have enough seats – minimum of three – to carry the operator, observer and skier.
• Recreational water skiers, tubers and knee-boarders must wear lifejackets at all times.
• A tow line cannot exceed 75 feet in length.
• Observe all “slow-no-wake” areas.
• Avoid traveling at unsafe speeds, especially in congested areas.
• Observe marked “No Water Skiing” areas, which include all marked swimming areas, Assawoman Canal, Rehoboth-Lewes Canal and portions of Indian River Inlet, Roosevelt Inlet, Whites Creek and the channel through Masseys Landing.
• Maintain a safe and reasonable distance from shipping lanes, other vessels, persons and property.
• Water skiing is prohibited at night between sunset and sunrise, and within 100 feet of persons in the water, piers, docks, floats, wharfs, vessels anchored or adrift and private or public boat launch ramps.

For more information, please visit the Delaware Boating Safety webpage.

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, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

Reminder for the week: Know and use aids to navigation while boating

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 Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between May 28-June 3 made 2,480 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 35 citations. Officers responded to 44 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased 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 May 29-31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers hosted programs introducing students from Cedar Lane Early Childhood Education Center to Delaware’s native wildlife and natural resources at Lums Pond State Park.
• On June 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers hosted the 32nd annual Youth Fishing Tournament at which 213 children and their families enjoyed a great day of fishing at three tournament locations throughout the state. The tournament introduces its participants to the sport of fishing and teaches conservation through the practice of “Catch & Release.”

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incident of note:

• On May 31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested an individual for multiple assault charges near Smyrna. The following press release was issued in regards to the incident: DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest Smyrna man on multiple assault charges.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (3), trespass to fish (1), possession of undersized blue crab (6), unlawful to catch shark between May 15-July 15 (1), and possession of undersized striped bass (2).

Boating and 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 (1), no boating safety certificate (1), failure to observe slow/no wake zone (1), failure to maintain a proper lookout (1), and no fire extinguisher on board (1).

Public Safety: Aggravated menacing (1), assault third degree – intentionally or recklessly causing physical injury to another (1), terroristic threatening (1), and offensive touching (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4), parking/obstruct boat ramp, roadway or trail with vehicle (1), possession of drug paraphernalia (2), theft by false promise under $1,500 (1), unattended vehicle (3), and operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (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. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?
Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police want to remind boaters to take time before going underway to become educated on the aids to navigation and the waterways in which you will be traveling.

Aids to navigation is a system of buoys and markers that assist a boater in determining their position on the water and identify any potential dangers and waterway obstructions. Aids to navigation can be used to plot position and course on nautical charts and also assist in choosing the preferred and safest route when out on the water.

To learn more about aids to navigation and safe boating, sign up to take a boater’s safety course by visiting our Boating Safety link.

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

Tournament marks start of National Fishing & Boating Week June 2-10; entry forms online

DOVER – As part of Delaware’s participation in National Fishing and Boating Week, June 2-10, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police will hold its 32nd Annual Youth Fishing Tournament from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, June 2. The tournament will be held at Ingrams Pond in Millsboro, Akridge Scout Reservation in Camden, and Lums Pond State Park in Bear, with the parks admission fee waived for tournament participants.

The tournament is open to youths ages 4 through 15. An adult must accompany youths under age 12 and contestants must bring their own fishing equipment. Prizes to all participants will be awarded at 1:30 p.m. in three age groups: 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15. The tournament is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to arrive before 10 a.m. to register for the tournament.

The tournament was established to introduce youth to the sport of fishing and to teach the catch-and-release approach to conservation.

“This event has grown tremendously since its start in 1986 and has involved more than 200 youths each year to sport fishing,” said Chief Drew Aydelotte of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, which sponsors the tournament.

In addition to the fishing tournament celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has designated June 2 and 3 as free fishing days when residents and visitors alike may fish in Delaware waters without a fishing license.

Anglers are reminded that even though they don’t need a license to fish on those two days, those who are age 16 and older are still required to obtain a free Fisherman Identification Network (F.I.N.) number, available online at www.delaware-fin.com or by calling 1-800-432-9228. Anglers also are required to comply with Delaware’s fishing regulations, including size and daily catch limits.

For more information on the Youth Fishing Tournament, including the registration form, please call 302-739-9913 or click 2018 Youth Fishing Tournament.

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.

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

Vol. 48, No. 133