DROPPING A LINE
Tyler Richardson gets ready to head out for an afternoon of fishing at Regina Beach on Friday. The province is now allowing people from different households to be in the same vessel, provided they maintain as much distance as is practical.
Anglers will be able to board their boats with buddies, thanks to revised guidelines in the Reopen Saskatchewan Plan.
On Friday, the province announced that boat passengers are now permitted to be from different households, but must maintain as much social distancing as possible. Previously, the guideline stated that passengers in a boat had to be from the same household in accordance with the public health order to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Fishing enthusiasts criticized the original rule. Many believed that since the government allows people from different households to be in proximity in some other scenarios, the boat restriction made no sense.
“I’ll go drive to the lake with my dad next weekend, and we don’t live together, but we stop in Battleford, grab groceries, we’ll be in a vehicle for two hours together and then stay in the same cabin. But the second I get on the lake I’m subject to a fine? It just kind of didn’t make sense to me,” said Colby Gulka, who lives in Warman.
Gulka had previously contacted his local MLA to voice his concerns.
Ryan Mayes, a Pilot Butte resident, doesn’t own his own boat and typically fishes with a friend who does. Mayes said the restrictions left a lot of disappointed anglers.
“Me and many fisherman I’ve talked to find the rules are not practical, and do not reflect or echo other rules the province has laid out and at times conflict. I realize these rules and standards are brand new to the province and were likely rolled out in a rushed manner, but I am just hoping for some amendments to them," said Mayes earlier this week.
Then Friday, his wish was granted.
Just a day after the province reopened shorelines and boat launches to fishers on May 4, word began spreading that the authorities were already trolling for violators of new social-distancing rules.
Reports appeared on social media that the RCMP was checking fishers at Regina Beach to see if they resided in the same household before boarding their boats.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Rob King denied the reports, and said the Mounties only responded to one report of a COVID-19 infraction at Regina Beach. When police arrived, the people allegedly breaking the guideline had left.
However, the Ministry of Environment confirmed that conservation officers were out checking on anglers. The ministry said that as of Friday, no fines have been issued to fishers.
Other rules for anglers under the Public Health Order include shoreline fishers being two-metres apart, fishing off public docks, dams, jetties or marinas is prohibited and fishing shacks or tables are closed in provincial parks.