Press Releases

Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333


Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395

May 15, 2009

Maine Warden Service Annual Boating Safety Press Conference

Media Advisory

EVENT: To kick-off National Boating Safety Week, the Maine Warden Service will conduct its annual boating safety press conference.

DATE: Monday, May 18.

TIME: 1 P.M.

LOCATION: Press conference begins at Samoset Lodge, Rockland, then proceeds to Chickawaukie Pond, Rockland, for a demonstration.

ATTENDEES: MWS Col. Joel Wilkinson
MWS Major Gregory Sanborn
Major John Fetterman, Maine Marine Patrol
U.S. Coast Guard Representatives

PURPOSE: The Maine Warden Service’s annual boating safety press conference is more than an event to remind boaters to wear their life jackets.

This year, the Maine Warden Service and the Maine Marine Patrol are hosting a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) “Boating Accident Investigation Course,” in which law enforcement from throughout the country will be gaining additional skills on accurately investigating recreational boating accidents. Is in carbon monoxide? Is it an electrical malfunction? Is it alcohol use? An instructor and attendees will be available for interviews. (At Samoset).

NASBLA sponsors National Safe Boating Week, which runs May 16-May 25. Visit www.nasbla.org.

The Maine Warden Service will outline its law enforcement efforts for the season. Last year, the MWS increased its efforts by 10,000 hours, and there was a reduction in the number of fatalities and accidents. In 2008, seven people died in boating-related incidents and there were 66 accidents. In 2007, 16 people died in boating-related incidents and there were 100 accidents.

The Maine Warden Service also is participating in NASBLA’s “Operation Dry Water” campaign this summer, which is a coordinated, national weekend of Boating Under the Influence detection and enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities nationwide. The effort is to foster a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.

As part of that, the Maine Warden Service, in partnership with other state law enforcement agencies, this summer will be launching an educational campaign, “Drunken Boating Leads to Drunken Driving,” to remind boaters that their actions on the water can have consequences on the roadways.

DEMONSTRATION: The Maine Warden Service will demonstrate ways anglers can be safe when fishing from boats. (At Chickawaukie Pond).