CABIN OWNER CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL OUTFITTING

An Alberta resident with a cabin in northern Saskatchewan has been convicted of illegal outfitting under The Outfitter and Guide Regulations.

A provincial court judge in La Ronge fined the cabin owner at total of $20,000, including surcharges.

Saskatchewan Environment conservation officers initiated an investigation after receiving a public complaint that a cabin owner on Jewett Lake was using the cabin for commercial outfitting activities.

"Excessive fishing can hurt efforts to maintain game fish populations in the future," Saskatchewan Environment's Compliance and Field Services Branch executive director Kevin Callele said. "Illegal outfitting affects existing licensed outfitters, as well as other users such as commercial fishers and recreational anglers. We hope that the significant penalty imposed by the courts in this case will serve as a deterrent to those who try to profit from the illegal use of our fish and wildlife resource."

Recreational leases in northern Saskatchewan are for the personal use and enjoyment of the lessee and their immediate family. Friends and relatives of the family must be accompanied by the leaseholder when using the site. Outfitting, subletting or time-share arrangements are not allowed.

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:

Doug Lucyshyn
Environment
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-8377
Cell: 306-222-9054