Released on June 3, 2014
A Saskatoon man was found guilty of one charge under Saskatchewan’s Fisheries Regulations and one charge under The Litter Control Act and fined $2,800 in provincial court in Saskatoon.Doug Leard was convicted of leaving an unmarked ice fishing shelter unattended on ice-covered waters and littering.
The charges were laid as the result of an investigation by the Ministry of Environment in March of this year. Conservation officers found an abandoned ice fishing shelter on Blackstrap Lake, 32 kilometres south of
Saskatoon. The shelter was not marked with the owner’s name, address and phone number and had not been removed by March 15, as required by law. There was also a considerable amount of garbage left in the ice shack. Leard was identified as the owner of the shelter and was subsequently charged.
In Saskatchewan, ice fishing shelters must have the owners’ complete name, address and phone number in legible letters that are at least 2.5 cm high on the outside of the shack. Ice fishing shelters south of Highway 16 must be removed from the ice no later than March 15 and those located north of Highway 16 must be removed by March 31.
“Ice shelter regulations are in place to protect private property and to protect our environment,” Ministry of Environment Compliance and Enforcement Director Ken Aube said. “Blackstrap Lake is used by a wide variety of recreational users and it’s important for them to comply with our regulations to preserve the natural integrity of this area.”
If you suspect fisheries, wildlife, forestry or environmental violations, call your local Ministry of Environment office, Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cellular subscribers, or report a violation online at www.saskatchewan.ca/conservation. You may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip Reward Program.
The Ministry of Environment provides science-based solutions, compliance and mitigation measures aimed at protecting the environment, safeguarding communities and helping to ensure a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan residents.
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For more information, contact:
Jamie Gibson
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3900