A few extra snowmobiles – and eyes – were on Yellowknife Bay over the weekend as an awareness campaign led by law enforcement and government agencies kicked into gear.
Members of the RCMP G Division, Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hit trails and fishing spots along the Dettah Ice Road Saturday as part of an inter-agency initiative to remind outdoor enthusiasts of sledding and ice fishing regulations.
“The initiative this year is to increase visibility of the … patrols we're doing,” said Const. Andrew Moore, who represented the RCMP during the blitz.
Const. Andrew Moore, representing the RCMP in a inter-agency awareness patrol, scans the ice road Saturday. Unregistered and uninsured sleds - and speeding drivers - are the most common infractions RCMP come across, according to Moore.
During Saturday's joint patrol, the second outing of the season under the partnership, participating officers were keeping an eye out for a number of offences related to snowmobiling and fishing.
“With the snowmobiling within Yellowknife city limits your snowmobiles are supposed to be registered and insured, so that's one thing we're looking for,” Moore said.
A lack of proper paper work, Moore said, yields the most infractions, but speeding sledders also pose a problem.
“You're supposed to abide by speed limits as well, so any excessive speeds we'll be stopping and talking to those people,” he said.
Within the limits of Yellowknife, snowmobilers riding in “A” zones – built up areas of the city – must observe a speed limit of 30 km/h, while “B” zones have a speed limit of 70 km/h. Violators can be fined $100 or more, states the city's website.
According to Moore, it's up to the officer's discretion and a “whole bunch of variables” whether a ticket or a warning is handed out.
After scoping the area for passing snowmobiles, the four-person patrol team headed out to inspect a nearby ice fishing tent.
Amanda Leaker, one of two fishery officers on patrol Saturday, told Yellowknifer the DFO encounters a number of sport fishing violations during the winter months.
“Common infractions would be ice fishing with too many lines, as well as people being too far away from their ice fishing holes,” Leaker said.
Amanda Leaker, one of two fishery officers on patrol Saturday, says the joint patrols are also aimed at raising awareness about ice fishing regulations. While on patrol, Leaker keeps an eye out for unattended or too many fishing lines and unlicensed fishers.
Ice fishers are prohibited from setting more than two lines and must remain 50 metres away from their fishing holes, said Leaker.
“Another infraction we may come across is fishing without a licence,” she added.
Also, Leaker said people possessing too many fish is a reoccurring issue during the season. Inspecting the ice fishing site Saturday, Leaker checked inside the erected tent to tally the number of lines and see if any were left unattended.
“We'll just have a look inside and see if anybody is in there fishing. If no one is in there we'll have a look to see if there's any lines set,” Leaker stated.
With no one inside and no lines set, the patrol team was off to its next destination across the lake, where they encountered ice fishers.
The DFO, a total of six warnings for sport fishing infractions were issued Saturday.
“All fishers should be familiar with the relevant regulations prior to setting out for the day,” a spokesperson from the department wrote in an email.
“Fisheries and Oceans is committed to the conservation and protection of northern fish stocks and fish habit through public awareness, regulations, partnerships and, where necessary, enforcement action,” the email stated.
While the purpose of the initiative is to enforce regulations, Const. Moore said most of the sledders and ice fishers they encounter are thankful for inter-agency patrol team's presence.
“A lot of people do appreciate seeing us, even if we're just stopping and talking. They appreciate the fact we're out there looking at other people not abiding by the rules,” Moore said, adding Yellowknifers are “happy” to see others being held accountable in the same way they are.
“Generally, it's a positive experience,” said Moore.
After a day of patrolling, Moore said the positive feedback makes it all worth while.
“People are appreciative of us being out there. That alone makes it self-rewarding …,” he said.