News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Ice-fishers are reminded that shelters must be removed from all provincial waterways by March 10 in the southern part of New Brunswick and by March 31 in the northern part of the province.

Ice fishers have a responsibility to ensure that they do not harm the environment and must remove their ice-fishing shelters before waterways thaw.

Such shelters and associated structures and materials on lakes, rivers and coastal waters south of Bath, in the west, and South of Bouctouche, in the east, must be removed by Saturday, March 10.

All such structures north of these locations must be removed by Saturday, March 31.

This order is made under Section 15 (7) of the Water Quality Regulation of the Clean Environment Act.

Owners are encouraged to monitor the weather and remove their structures before they become an environmental hazard.

Waste and debris resulting from either poor site management or failure to remove shelters before spring break up pose a risk to provincial waterways.

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

The department encourages all New Brunswickers to be responsible stewards of the environment, and to report any infraction of environmental regulations.