Reminder for the week: Start the boating season off right by wearing your lifejacket

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 8-14 made 2,451 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 63 citations. Officers responded to 69 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 April 13, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to a reported water rescue in the Delaware River, north of Pea Patch Island. Upon arrival, officers observed a small vessel that had run aground, leaving the passengers stranded. The operator, Nicholas E. Jordan, 30, of Carlisle, Pa., was cited for one count each of failure to maintain a proper lookout and no boating safety certificate. Jordan was fined $189, including court costs, and released.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), illegal method of take (1), hunting wild turkeys out of season (2), hunting wild turkeys during prohibited hours (2), failure to wear camouflage clothing while hunting wild turkey (2), hunting wild turkeys without an approved course of instruction (2), and unlicensed hunting (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Possession of undersized white perch (2)*, unlicensed fishing (2)*, fishing in a closed area (5), possession of undersized blue crab (1), no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (6), and unlicensed fishing (7).

Boating & Boating Safety: Inattentive operation of a motor vessel (1), no boating safety certificate (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (4), and no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana – civil (1)*, possession of drug paraphernalia – marijuana-related (2), shooting within 15 yards of a public roadway (1), hunting from a vehicle (2), and possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (2).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (10), criminal trespass 3rd (1), and conspiracy 3rd degree (2).

*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 remind boaters to practice safe boating, especially by wearing lifejackets. Delaware law requires that all personal watercraft (PWC) operators and PWC passengers, as well as all children 12 years old and younger aboard a vessel of any type wear a lifejacket while underway. The law does not require wearing a lifejacket for those age 13 years and older on vessels other than PWCs; however, vessel owners/operators are required to carry a readily accessible, properly sized lifejacket for each person onboard.

The same requirements that apply to motorized vessels also apply to paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks operating on Delaware waters. All paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks must have a wearable lifejacket and a whistle or other sound-producing device aboard and readily accessible.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

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

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, now in their fourth year.

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.

Since the program’s inception in 2016, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police have held seven academies, serving 122 youth, all of whom received their boating safety and hunter safety certifications. In 2018, a total of 44 students graduated from the academies.

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
  Application Deadline: Friday, June 7
• 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
  Application Deadline: Friday, June 7
• 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
  Application Deadline: Friday, June 7

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 who 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 http://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.

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, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167, or 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 75

DOVER (March 28, 2019) – DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police were recently recognized as the 26th organization in the nation to be accredited under the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program. This accreditation ensures that the agency’s training practices, policies, qualification processes, and documentation meet the national standard recognized by the United States Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Established by NASBLA, the BOAT Program was developed to ensure the readiness of law enforcement and emergency response boat crews throughout the country. By adopting this national standard, an agency enhances its ability to conduct missions on our nation’s waterways safely and effectively, and to operate seamlessly with their federal, state, county, tribal, and local maritime partners.

Under the BOAT Program’s national standards, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police will train and qualify all of its officers and any requesting maritime partners in the areas of seamanship, search and rescue, and tactical response to boating emergencies, with the goal of providing an enhanced level of boating safety on Delaware’s waterways.

For additional information, contact Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Chief Drew Aydelotte at 302-739-9913 or email drew.aydelotte@delaware.gov.

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

Vol. 49, No. 70

Reminder for the week: Boaters urged to check gear before putting vessels in the water

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 March 4-10 made 1,082 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 14 citations. Officers responded to 36 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

• Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, along with other Division of Fish & Wildlife staff, will be attending the Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Conservation Festival on April 13 at Fish & Wildlife’s Owens Station complex near Greenwood, where we will be featuring the following displays and activities: Operation Game Theft trailer, a marine patrol vessel, hunter education, live archery trailer, Take a Kid Fishing casting activities, annual statewide youth Sport Fishing Tournament, and waterfowl and trout stamp displays, as well as K9 and waterfowl banding demonstrations. For more information, click Greenwing Conservation Festival.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to register antlerless deer within 24 hours (1) and remove antlerless deer parts prior to registering (1).

Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia (3)*.

Boating Safety: Operate a vessel with insufficient life jackets (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (7)* and operating a vehicle off an established roadway in 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 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 remind boaters that in addition to taking a boater safety course, making sure your vessel is water-ready increases your safety levels. Before putting your vessel in the water, you should perform a pre-departure check by ensuring that you have:

• All current required licenses and registrations, including fishing license(s), boat registration, boating safety certificate, and, for vessels registered out-of-state launching at a Division of Fish & Wildlife tidal boat ramp, a boat ramp certificate;
• Enough lifejackets for everyone on board, including for children age 12 or younger who are required by Delaware law to wear them when the vessel is underway and when not in an enclosed cabin, though lifejacket use is encouraged at all times when aboard a vessel; for vessels 16 feet or more in length, a throwable life preserver is also required;
• Checked the local weather forecast;
• Left a float plan with a responsible friend, family member, or local marina, including a description of your boat, when you plan to head out, who is going with you, where you plan to go, and when you plan to return;
• Checked for working navigation lights, steering, and throttle controls;
• Checked oil, fuel, and fluid levels;
• Checked for fuel leaks, including hose clamps and connections;
• Drained all water from the engine compartment or bilge, and replaced and secured the bilge plug;
• A fully-charged engine battery and fire extinguishers;
• Emergency flares and a fully charged cell phone or marine radio; and
• Plenty of water to stay hydrated and sunscreen to protect against sunburn, which can be severe on the water.

For more information, including Delaware’s boating safety course schedule, access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook, and other boating information, please visit Delaware Boating Safety or contact Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, at 302-365-8705 or email john.mcderby@delaware.gov.

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: Lt. John McDerby, 302-354-1386, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

National campaign urges boaters to ‘Keep Your Edge’ through education

DOVER – DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Office of Boating Safety and Education joins the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in encouraging boaters to “Spring Aboard,” a March 17-23 nationwide campaign to prepare for boating season by enrolling in a boating safety course.

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 or personal watercraft in Delaware waters. Boaters required to complete a boating safety course must carry their boating safety card with them at all times while operating a vessel as proof of course completion. Other boaters are encouraged to take a boating safety course to sharpen their boating skills.

A wide variety of courses are available to fit every boater’s schedule, from classroom courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons to online offerings available anytime day or night. During “Spring Aboard,” several Delaware-approved online boating safety education providers offer courses at a discounted price or other incentives. Delaware’s Office of Boating Safety and Education also provides volunteer instructors for private and non-profit organizations, schools, clubs, and the general public to educate boaters on skills and seamanship.

Delaware’s course covers the rules and regulations for the state’s waterways, including appropriate speed limits, responsible boating skills and awareness, and how to distinguish navigational aids and water depths. Also covered are weather tips, information about basic engine mechanics, required and recommended safety equipment, what to do if a Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer stops your vessel, and the dangers of boating under the influence.

Operator inexperience and inattention continue to be leading factors in accidents and deaths on our nation’s waterways according to the U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics. Where boating safety course participation was known, 81 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction.

NASBLA is a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety, and represents recreational boating authorities in all 50 states and the U.S. territories, including Delaware. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers, and volunteers, NASBLA serves more than 73.5 million American boaters.

For more information, including Delaware’s boating safety course schedule and access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook, please click Delaware Boating Safety, www.springaboard.org, or contact Lt. John McDerby at 302-739-9913 or email John.mcderby@delaware.gov.

Like 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: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 56