A veritable city of about 1,000 fishermen descend on Simon Pond in Tupper Lake during the 2016 Northern Challenge Ice Fishing Derby. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding anglers that ice fishing shanties must be removed by this Friday, regardless of how thick the ice may be on their favorite frozen waterways.

“State regulations that require ice shanties to be removed are based on the average date when good ice still exists on waters, not on the actual thickness of ice,” a press release from the department said. “Shanties must be removed by March 15 even if the ice on a water body is still thick.

“DEC can ticket shanty owners who don’t remove their shanties, and they face a maximum possible fine of $100.”

Shanties can still be brought onto the ice when in use but cannot remain unattended.

DEC warned that shanties that fall through the ice can be hazardous to snowmobilers and other recreationists, and are difficult to move. The department said shanties can also create navigation hazards for boats when the ice is gone.