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.

Low tide leaves only 1.5 feet of water until Massey Ditch dredging

DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Shoreline & Waterway Management Section advises boaters traveling in the Inland Bays over Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer to be alert when navigating in Baker’s Channel. The channel extends from Rehoboth Bay to Indian River Bay around the eastern side of the island known as Lynch’s Thicket.

The entrance to Baker’s Channel in Rehoboth Bay between Channel Marker 1 and the gate at Markers 3 and 4 is very shallow at low tide. There is only about 1.5 feet of water at low tide for boaters to navigate. This portion of Baker’s Channel is scheduled to be dredged later this year as part of the Massey’s Ditch maintenance dredging project.

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

REHOBOTH – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to, and are investigating a fatal boat accident that occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. Sunday, May 19 on the Rehoboth Bay near the Lewes/Rehoboth Canal.

A 16-foot boat capsized, resulting in the boat’s operator and single passenger entering the water. The boat operator and passenger were transported to shore, where the passenger was pronounced dead by Sussex County Emergency Medical Services. At this time, all names are being withheld pending notification of family members. The investigation is ongoing.

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 Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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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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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Life-Saving Award presented. Left to right: Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Chief Drew Aydelotte, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, Life Saving Award Recipient David Ritter of Millsboro, US Senator Tom Carper, State Rep. Daniel Short, State Rep. Timothy Dukes, and State Senator Bryant Richardson.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police promote boating safety, present life-saving award

LAUREL – Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin was joined today by state Senator Bryan Richardson, Representative Daniel Short, Representative Timothy Dukes, and DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife staff to celebrate the completion of the newly-reconstructed Phillips Landing Boating and Fishing Access Area and the Woodland Wharf Boat Dock and Kayak Launch near Laurel.

“These projects at Phillips Landing and Woodland Wharf provide new and enhanced access to the Nanticoke River and its tributaries for experiencing the recreational spectrum of boating, fishing, bird and wildlife-watching, canoeing, and kayaking along this beautiful National Historic Water Trail,” said Secretary Garvin. “We are proud to highlight these new amenities today and look forward to seeing them used and enjoyed for many years to come.”

At Phillips Landing, the old two-lane boat ramp has been replaced with a new three-lane ramp, with two floating docks and wing walls to allow safer and easier launching of boats, plus a new canoe/kayak launch. A repaved parking area, stone path for shoreline fishing, portable toilet enclosure, and solar lighting complete the project. The $1.09 million project was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration program, partnered with matching state funds from fishing license sales.

The new Woodland Wharf facility, located near the historic Woodland Ferry on the Nanticoke River on property purchased by the state in 2012, features a boat dock with a canoe/kayak launch, plus new steel bulkheads. A new six-space parking area and shoreline fishing access with a bench and bike rake complete the project. The $349,439 project was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant Program and state Bond Bill funds. The Woodland Wharf property was purchased with funds from the state Open Space Program and the National Parks Service; a combination of funds from the National Parks Service, Chesapeake Conservancy, and the State of Delaware funded planning for the site.

“Public access and land conservation are two major goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Projects like Woodland Wharf and Phillips Landing fuel outdoor recreation, sustainable economic development and public support for environmental conservation,” said Joel Dunn, president and chief executive officer of Chesapeake Conservancy. “We were pleased to contribute private funding from the Welfare Foundation to the Woodland Wharf project supporting the important work on the Nanticoke River, a major tributary to the Chesapeake.”

Both new boating and fishing access areas are managed by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife. For more information on the Phillips Landing Boating and Fishing Access Area, the Woodland Wharf Boat Dock and Kayak Launch, or other boating and fishing access areas, please contact the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

Promoting boating safety and presentation of DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Life Saving Award
Also at the event, Secretary Garvin read Governor John Carney’s proclamation designating May 18-24 as National Safe Boating Week in Delaware, and DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police promoted safe boating practices including wearing life jackets. Local members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary were recognized for their volunteer work teaching Delaware boating safety classes.

Secretary Garvin and Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Chief Drew Aydelotte also honored David Ritter of Millsboro with a Life Saving Award for his quick actions on the morning of April 5, when he rescued two anglers from the water after their fishing boat capsized in Indian River.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

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

Vol. 49, No. 126