Police in Port Hope, Ont., reported four bylaw infractions related to fishing on the Ganaraska River on the weekend.

Last week, the Municipality of Port Hope council approved a temporary bylaw restricting access to the river for open fishing as part of a protective measure during the coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions went into effect on April 22 and will remain until May 12, at which time they will be reviewed and the decision made to either lift or extend them, the town said.

“It was a difficult decision but one we felt we had to make to protect the citizens of our community from the COVID-19 virus,” said Mayor Bob Sanderson.

Sanderson said the opening weekend of the trout fishing season usually attracts thousands of anglers to the river, which runs through the heart of the town to Lake Ontario. He said the bylaw was the only step the municipality could take.

“There was no possible way we felt we could protect our citizens or those who came here in an appropriate manner without these restrictions,” he said.

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