OUTFITTER FINED $35,100 FOR EXCEEDING ANGLER LIMITS ON TROUT LAKE

An outfitting company and an associated operator have been convicted in provincial court in La Ronge and fined $35,100 under The Natural Resources Act and The Outfitter and Guide Regulations, 2004 for exceeding the angler day allocation on Trout Lake. In addition to the court penalties, Saskatchewan Environment is reviewing the Sportsman's Lodge outfitting licence in light of the conviction.

An angler day allocation is the number of anglers an outfitter may have on a particular lake.

In June 2006, conservation officers investigated a complaint that the outfitter was exceeding the number of angler days specified on their 2006 Outfitter's Licence. Observation by the conservation officers confirmed that limits were being exceeded.

"There is a limit as to how much outfitting activity can occur on individual lakes," Saskatchewan Environment's Compliance and Field Services Branch executive director Kevin Callele said. "Lake quotas are set by fisheries managers to ensure all users have fair and equal opportunities to fish. It is very important that these limits are carefully followed to ensure fish populations are sustainable over the long term for the benefit of all citizens."

Callele said enforcement efforts such as this one are undertaken to help protect Saskatchewan's valuable fisheries resource from the damage caused by over-limit fishing.

Anyone who is aware of or suspects wildlife, fisheries or environmental violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Saskatchewan Environment office or to call the province's toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-667-7561.

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For more information, contact:

Jeanette Krayetski
Environment
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-953-2691