Ice fishing season winding down: Anglers reminded to remove shacks

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The provincial Ministry of Environment is reminding anglers that the deadlines to remove their ice fishing shacks are quickly approaching.

All fishing shelters south of Highway 16 must be removed by March 15 and shelters in areas north of Highway 16 must be removed by March 31.

The ministry says ice fishing shelters are abandoned on the ice every year, which can later pose a danger to boaters, water-skiers and others enjoying our lakes. Pieces can also wash up on shore and cause environmental hazards.

If shelters are not removed, owners may be prosecuted and the structure and contents may be removed and confiscated.

Litter must also be removed when ice shelters are taken off the ice. Structures must be moved to a location where it can be loaded and removed to the individual’s residence or property.

Ice fishing shelters must have the owner’s complete name, address and phone number on the outside in legible letters that are at least 2.5 cm high.

The ministry says anyone travelling on the ice should take extreme caution. Slush indicates that ice is eroding from above and below at an advanced rate. Changing temperatures can cause thermal cracks and pressure ridges, which are indicators of unsafe conditions.

Ice fishing season closes on March 31 in southern and central Saskatchewan and on April 15 in the north. Information about fishing in the province can be found in the Saskatchewan Anglers’ Guide and online.

If you suspect wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations, call your local Ministry of Environment office, Saskatchewan’s toll-free TIP line at 1-800-667-7561, call #5555 for SaskTel cellular subscribers, or report a violation online at www.saskatchewan.ca/tip. You may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip reward program.