Saskatoon – The Saskatchewan Commission of Professional Outfitters (SCPO) has reported that wildfires have been a major setback for the province’s fishing industry. According to Roy Anderson, the acting CEO of SCPO, summer wildfires have caused a loss of more than $2 million to the industry.
In addition to revenue loss, outfitters had already spent a significant amount on supplies and equipment for the season. The inability of American clients to travel to northern Saskatchewan due to the fires, along with subsequent road closures and ATV bans, has been a major challenge for outfitters. Roy Anderson stated that the ATV and UTV bans alone resulted in a revenue loss of $400,000.
The province has also seen a busy summer for insurance claims. The Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that the Picev wildfire near La Ronge in early June resulted in over $50 million in insured damages. The agency added that the total cost of this year’s firefighting efforts is still being calculated.
