Practice Safety First this Labor Day Weekend
August 25, 2008
Boaters are sure to flood Georgia’s waterways this Labor Day Holiday weekend, bringing the summer boating season to an unofficial end. Given the expected level of holiday boating activity, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division want to stress the importance of safety, especially designating a sober driver this holiday weekend.
“Holiday weekends often mean increased use of public waterways – and that means an increased need for safety awareness from all boaters,” says Col. Terry West, Chief of Law Enforcement. “As always, conservation rangers will continue to strictly enforce all boating laws in an effort to keep everyone safe, but we also encourage people to pay extra attention to others on the water.”
So far this year there have been 124 boating incidents, 10 boating incident-related fatalities and 53 total drownings on Georgia waters. WRD Conservation Rangers have also issued a total of 158 boating under the influence citations. Many accidents and fatalities can be avoided by reviewing and following safety tips over the course of the holiday weekend’s festivities.
- There are no “driving lanes” on the water, so boat operators need to be educated on the ‘rules of the road’ and aware of all other boat traffic in the area. The 100-foot law prohibits people from operating ALL vessels, including personal watercraft (i.e. PWC, jet ski), at a speed greater than idle speed within 100 feet of any vessel that is moored, anchored or adrift outside normal traffic channels, or within 100 feet of any dock, wharf, pier, piling, bridge structure, person in the water or shoreline adjacent to a full-time or part-time residence, public park, public beach, public swimming area, marina, restaurant or other public use area.
- Wear your life jacket. Nine out of ten drowning victims did not. Children under the age of ten are required by law to wear a life jacket while onboard a moving boat (unless child is in a fully enclosed cabin).
- Do not drink and operate a boat. Half of all boating fatalities involve alcohol. Alcohol can affect people much more rapidly on the water – the boat’s movement, vibration, noise and glare, and the sun and wind create a so-called boater’s hypnosis. Make sure a designated operator refrains from drinking alcohol so they can safely operate the boat.
- Use navigation lights at ALL times on the water at night, whether the boat is moving or anchored. Do not wait until dark to turn your lights on to see if they are functioning properly.
- Do not overload your boat with people or equipment. Check the capacity plate on the boat that indicates the maximum weight capacity or the maximum number of people that the boat can safely carry.
- Minimum Age Requirements. Know Georgia’s age requirements for boat and PWC operation, and don’t lend your PWC to anyone underage.
- Brush up on your boating safety knowledge. Take a boating safety course. There are three easy ways for boat operators to take a course in Georgia – in a classroom, on the Internet at www.boat-ed.com
or through a home study course that can either be ordered on the Internet at www.boat-ed.com or by calling 1-800-460-9698.
In addition, due to Georgia’s current drought situation and the effects on area lakes and
waterways, WRD advises boaters to be extra cautious and aware of possible navigational obstructions while on the water.
“Boaters should be on the lookout for such obstructions as trees, debris and land areas that normally are well under the water’s surface,” explains West. “Even if you are familiar with a particular body of water, we encourage you to boat with caution to protect your vessel and your occupants.”
For more information on boating safety, contact a WRD Law Enforcement Office or visit the WRD website at www.goboatgeorgia.com .
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NYDEC Announces Temporary Closure of Three Shellfishing Areas
July 1, 2008
North Shore Areas To Be Closed Over Fourth of July Holiday, Expected to Reopen July 10
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the temporary closure of three shellfishing areas on the north shore of Long Island during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. These closures are put in place annually during the busy holiday to protect public health from potential contamination of shellfish associated with increased boating activity in shellfishing waters. He also reminded boaters to utilize pump out facilities to help protect these waters.
“Due to the large increase in recreational boaters during the Fourth of July holiday, DEC has taken precautionary measures and closed some of the most heavily traveled waters to protect public health,” Commissioner Grannis. “We strongly encourage boaters to act responsibly and adhere to the no discharge zone in Port Jefferson Harbor and to use pump out facilities to prevent impacts to our natural resources and protect the health of the public.”
DEC will designate the following areas as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on Friday, July 4, which means that shellfish harvesting is prohibited until DEC reopens them for harvest. All three areas are located on the north shore of Long Island. The closed sections include:
- 50 acres in the area known as the Sand Hole in the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County.
- 243 acres in a section of Port Jefferson Harbor in Brookhaven, Suffolk County.
- 445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay, Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County.
Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in the above areas on Thursday, July 10.
In cooperation with local bay constables and the State Police Aviation Unit, DEC plans to conduct observations of the three closed shellfishing areas and other overnight recreational anchoring areas to monitor the number of boats present. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit the areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas to harvesting earlier than July 10.
Since 1995, DEC has designated these areas as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays because of the increased potential for contamination of shellfish lands by the discharge of sewage from recreational boats during this peak summer holiday period. Discharges from a marine sanitation device (toilet) may contaminate nearby shellfish beds with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering the shellfish unsafe for human consumption.
Boaters should be aware that Port Jefferson Harbor is designated a no-discharge zone. A no-discharge area is a designated body of water where discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. Boaters in this harbor and the other two restricted areas should utilize the following pump out facilities:
Oyster Bay Harbor (West Harbor):
One pump out boat is operated by the Town of Oyster Bay at no fee to boaters. Contact the pump out boat via marine radio VHF channel 9. In addition, the Town provides two pump out stations on floats near the Oyster Bay Marine Center and Waterfront Park and a land-based pump out in the Town marina at Theodore Roosevelt Park.
The Sand Hole:
Although there are no facilities within the Sand Hole, boaters should contact Town of Oyster Bay pump out boat as noted above. There also is a land-based pump out facility at Powles Marine Center in Cold Spring Harbor. In addition, boaters traveling from Town of Huntington waters can request the services of the Town of Huntington pump out boat (no fee) by calling on marine radio VHF channel 9. There are also several land-based pump out facilities in Northport Harbor and Huntington Harbor.
Port Jefferson Harbor:
The Town of Brookhaven operates a pump out boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor. Boaters may contact the pump out boat via marine radio VHF channel 73. In addition, there is a land-based pump out station at the Town of Brookhaven’s Port Jefferson marina (no fee).
A recorded message advising the public of any shellfishing areas in New York State that are temporarily closed is accessible 24 hours a day by calling (631) 444-0480. The recorded message will also advise harvesters when such areas have reopened. Written descriptions and color-coded maps of these and other short duration shellfish closures can be found on the DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/35917.html
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Most Common Fishing and Boating Violations
June 23, 2008
CHEYENNE-Warmer summer months triggers an increase in fishing and boating activity in Wyoming, and with that increase in summer activities also come an increase in fishing and boating violations.
According to the Game and Fish, the vast majority of boaters and anglers are obeying Wyoming laws, but there are a number of violations that are increasingly common from year to year. Some of the violations are undoubtedly due to ignorance of the laws, but many are simply due to participants not putting forth the effort to comply with the rules and regulations.
Every year the top fishing violation is failure to buy a license. Wyoming licenses expire with the calendar year and are required of persons 14 years of age and older. Anglers who purchase annual licenses also need a conservation stamp. No stamp is required for holders of daily licenses.
Overlimit of fish is another common violation. Anglers need to pay close attention to the limit for the water where they will be fishing. Creel limits for trout on a number of waters were changed from the 6 fish limit of previous years and anglers are advised to consult the regulations for the water where they are planning to fish.
Along the same line of creel limits are limitations restricting the size of fish that can be kept. For trout, the general creel limit allows six fish, of which only one can exceed 20 inches, but that is not true for all waters.
If the water has a differing creel and size restriction it will be detailed in the exceptions sections in the fishing regulations for each drainage area. Trout are not the only species with size restrictions. There are also size restrictions on tiger musky and northern pike and some waters have restrictions on bass. Anglers should be aware that when length limits apply, the whole body of the fish excluding gills and entrails shall remain intact while in transit or in the field. If length limits do not apply a piece of skin large enough to allow species identification (at least one inch square) shall remain on the filet.
Another common violation is false oath when nonresidents purchase resident licenses without satisfying the state residency requirement. Wyoming law requires persons to be domiciled in Wyoming for one year without claiming residency elsewhere for that period before qualifying for resident hunting or fishing licenses. Questions on residency can be directed to any Game and Fish office or department enforcement personnel.
Similar to not buying a fishing license, one of the more common boating violations is failure to register boats. Wyoming law requires that all craft that are propelled with motors, including electric motors, must be registered. Canoes, rowboats, rafts, float tubes etc. without motors need not be registered. But if a motor is attached, then registration is in order.
With summer holidays coming up in the next few weeks, boaters need to take special care to avoid the boating under the influence (BUI) violation. Not drinking and driving not only applies to our highways but to waters as well. Game and Fish enforcement officer Jon Stephens says BUI violations are most common around the popular July 4th weekend. “Fines for BUI are substantial and can result in possible jail time and loss of boating privileges,” Stephens said. “But more significantly, boaters who are drinking not only jeopardize their own personal safety but also the safety of others.”
Not having proper safety equipment aboard is another violation. This includes an approved life jacket for every member on board and appropriate safety equipment. A new requirement this year requires the wearing of an approved life jacket (personal flotation device) for youth 12 years old or under.
Stephens emphasizes that the various fishing and boating regulations are not there to impact enjoyment of the out of doors, but are in place to protect and enhance the resource for the enjoyment of anglers and the safety of all who use Wyoming’s waters. Boating and fishing regulations are covered in detail in the fishing and watercraft regulations pamphlets.
(contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540)
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