Spring coming, ice fishing shacks will soon have to go

With spring weather coming, people who fish on the ice will have to remove their fishing shacks in the next few weeks, the Saskatchewan government says.

Theenvironment ministry saysall structuressouth of Highway 16 must be removed by March 15.

All shacks north of the highway must be removed by March 31.

Each spring, many ice fishing shelters are abandoned on the ice of Saskatchewan lakes,the ministry said in a news release.

They need to be removed because they can pose dangers to boaters, water-skiers and swimmers. Pieces of the shelterscan wash up on shoreand causeenvironmental hazards, the release said.

If the shacks are not removed, owners face prosecution.As well, the structures and their contents may be confiscated, the ministry said.

In a recent example from 2014, Saskatoon man Doug Leardwas convicted in provincial courtofabandoningagarbage-strewn ice-fishing shack on Blackstrap Lake. He wasfined $2,800.

In south and central Saskatchewan, ice fishing season closes on March 31, while in the north it closes on April 15.

More information about fishing in the province can be found in the Saskatchewan Anglers' Guide and online at the ministry's fishing webpage.