Call Made For Tough Stand On Illegal Outfitters

Call Made For Tough Stand On Illegal Outfitters

Monday, March 21, 2005 at 15:31

An outfitting expert is looking for a crackdown on the number of illegal camps he says are operating in northern Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Outfitters Association Director Hal Stupnikoff won’t put a number to the amount of illegal camps he feels are running, but he does say it is significant.

Last week, the outfitters association and the provincial government struck a deal to work together on issues of environmental management.

Also last week, a Meota man was fined for running an illegal operation at Close Lake.

Stupnikoff says the current rules make it too easy for these outfits to flourish and it’s taking business away from legitimate operations.

Stupnikoff says they also want the government to begin allowing legitimate outfitters to expand their operations more easily, especially fishers.

He claims fishing outfits are limited to a certain number of beds which puts a limit on the number of visitors they can accommodate — even if it’s for a totally different reason like eco-tourism.