Ice anglers must remove all ice fishing shanties on the ice by March 15, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reminded shanty owners today.

The removal the shanties is required under State regulation, which is based on the average date when good ice still exists on waters, not on the actual thickness of ice. Ice shanties must be removed even though ice may be thick on the body of water being used for fishing.

Shanties that fall partially through the ice become hard to remove and create hazards to snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles on the ice. Shanties that remain after ice out (when the ice has melted away) become navigation hazards for boats.

Owners who fail to remove their shanty by March 15 can be ticketed and face a maximum possible fine of $100.