N.B. reminds residents to remove ice-fishing shelters on time as temperatures rise

Ice fishing shacks are seen along New Brunswick's Kennebecasis River on Jan. 21, 2014. (CTV Atlantic)

The New Brunswick government is advising residents that ice-fishing shelters must be removed from all provincial waterways at the first sign of thaw, and no later than March 15.

Owners are responsible for removing their structures before the deadline to prevent environmental hazards resulting from waste and debris entering waterways.

The province is also reminding fishers they must clear away all trash and debris.

“With the mild temperatures predicted in the upcoming weather forecast, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and not delay removing ice-fishing shelters,” said Gilles LePage, minister of Environment and Climate Change, in a news release Thursday.

“Rising temperatures can rapidly cause ice conditions to become unstable and dangerous. Ice-fishing shelter owners should closely monitor the situation and remove their shelters if they notice any signs of melting.”

The annual removal order falls under Section 15 (7) of the Water Quality Regulation of the Clean Environment Act.

Signs are posted at New Brunswick’s popular ice-fishing sites, reminding shelter owners to respect regulations and to properly maintain their shelters until the end of the fishing season.

“We want to ensure that nothing left on the ice ends up in our rivers, lakes or bays, so please take everything with you and help keep our province clean,” said LePage. “We all want to enjoy clean water throughout the year.”

New Brunswick’s winter fishing season is open until March 31.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.