2018: A Year In ReviewUser Fees Pay for a New Ranger at Ocean Parks in 2018The new Ranger, Tyler Veutler, is expected to start his new job with the ocean parks by Memorial Day weekend. He will be based out of Delaware Seashore upon completion of his academy training.

The ocean parks now have seven rangers and a supervisor on patrol. The workweek for the rangers also increased from 37.5 hours to 40 hours. This increase has given the ocean parks an additional 1,000 hours of park ranger coverage.

Park funds were used to pay for the new full-time position. The Division of Parks & Recreation is primarily self-funded. User fees account for 65 percent of Delaware State Parks’ budget.

Park Patrol ProposalThe division is seeking legislative authority to allow advanced seasonal park patrol officers to issue simple tickets, such as parking violations and surf fishing violations. The proposal is modeled after the state police cadet program.

The move would expand enforcement of rules. The division employs 27 seasonal officers during the summer months at the beach parks.

9

Park funds paid for an additional Ranger making the total

number of park Rangers at beach parks

number of seasonal officers at beach parks

27

7

The number of days with over 500 vehicles on the beach at Cape Henlopen in 2018

Captain Steve Savidge of the Delaware Natural Resources Police checks to make sure a park visitor is in compliance with surf fishing rules and regulations at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Park Patrol officers dig out a truck stuck in the sand.

Surf Fishing Stakeholder MeetingA stakeholders’ meeting was held this June to discuss concerns and receive feedback on surf fishing. The meeting was held at the Indian River Marina. Representatives from the Delaware Division of Parks & Recreation, the Delaware Mobile Surf Fisherman, homeowners, and the Beach Access Coalition attended the meeting. The goal is to continue to look for ways all groups can work together to enhance everyone’s user experience.

Surf Fishing Permit Proposals ConsideredThe division is proposing to increase surf fishing permit fees and to cap the number of permits issued annually to 17,000.

The proposal calls for raising the Delaware surf fishing permit fees to $90, an increase of $10. Out-of-state residents would pay $180 for an annual permit, an increase of $20. Each, surf fishing permit will provide two benefits to the holder: access to all 17 Delaware state parks and surf fishing vehicle access on park beaches. The price breakdown for Delaware surf fishing permits: $35 goes toward the annual park pass and the remaining $55 pays for surf fishing vehicle access on the beaches.

Awaiting Air Cannon DecisionThe division is waiting for the U.S. Department of Interior to decide whether air cannons can be used at Delaware State Parks.

Air cannons use compressed air to launch bait up to 300 yards offshore, replacing the need for casting. A disability complaint was filed against the division in November 2016 with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding their use. The division opposes the equipment’s use, as it poses a risk of injury to other park guests.

"We are very fortunate to have so many miles of state beach, given the ever-increasing popularity of surf fishing." Clark Evans

President, Delaware Mobile Surf Fisherman

44%

56%

State ParkAccess Fee:$35

Beach Access Fee: $45

CURRENT SURF FISHING COST: $80

*Provided at no cost by HB401 in 2012

2018Permit Type

Surf 2-year non-resident 12 2 3 1 61 27 78 55 - - 1 2 - - 241 1.4%Surf 2-year resident 384 20 59 32 660 59 291 208 3 45 89 134 17 19 2,019 11.6%Surf 2-year senior non-resident 5 - - - 21 2 29 10 - - 1 - - - 68 0.4%Surf 2-year senior resident 40 5 10 7 295 25 221 57 - 14 33 17 6 3 732 4.2%Surf senior non-resident 22 1 6 4 175 50 253 155 - 3 2 5 1 3 678 3.9%Surf senior resident 156 9 48 14 649 73 439 189 - 39 54 76 53 18 1,816 10.5%Surf non- resident 263 8 27 17 633 286 897 762 1 2 11 60 9 28 3,002 17.3%Surf resident 1,795 77 174 94 1,917 264 1,145 842 12 210 325 468 369 78 7,770 44.8%Firefighter - 44 56 36 182 28 147 - 21 99 110 177 114 21 1,035 6.0%Grand total 2,677 166 382 206 4,591 813 3,499 2,278 37 411 626 937 569 169 17,361 100.0%% of sales 15.4% 1.0% 2.2% 1.2% 26.4% 4.7% 20.2% 13.1% 0.2% 2.4% 3.6% 5.4% 3.3% 1.0% 100.0%

% is

sued

Surf Fishing Tags Issued for 2018 This is an increase from the 17,140 tags issued in 2017.17,361

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Total Number of Vehicles on Beaches at Cape Henlopen

Lum

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Highest Daily Vehicle Counton the beaches at Cape Henlopen

2018 851

2017 828

2016 880

2015 883

2014 987

2013 827

2012 630

2011 603

2010 681

2008 508

2006 382

No Permit/Off-road Not Active/No Fishing Equipment

SURF FISHING VIOLATIONS100

90

80

70

60

50

30

20

10

0

4651

56

29 26

87

Arrests 2016

Arrests 2017

Arrests 2018

Loggerhead Turtles ReturnFor the first time in 45 years, loggerhead turtles have hatched on Fenwick Island.

The endangered turtle has not nested in Delaware since 1973. Typically, the loggerhead turtle nests on beaches between Florida and North Carolina.

The Division partnered with the Division of Fish & Wildlife, Division of Watershed Stewardship, and the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) to protect the nest and the hatchlings this fall. In September, many of the hatchlings emerged from the nest and headed to the ocean. By October, 49 of the 78 eggs in the nest had hatched. One of the hatchlings died in the nest, which commonly happens with sea turtles.

Download Tip411The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in October unveiled its new smartphone app; Tip411.

The new web-based app allows users to submit tips anonymously to Rangers if they see vehicles speeding on the beach, people driving recklessly, or suspicious activity. The app also allows park staff to send out alerts. The app can be used to let people know if the parks are closing due to weather conditions, if a child is lost, or if there is a special event happening in the park. The new app can be downloaded for free by visiting iTunes or the Google Play store. For details: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/tip-411/

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

and The Delaware Division of Parks & Recreation

89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901

For tip submissions requiring an immediate response, please contact DNREC Natural Resources Police at 302-739-9910

Submit an anonymous tip to your agency.

New Tip Tip List

DENRP TIP