Contact:
Doug Grout: (603) 868-1095
Paul Sanderson: (603) 271-3511
June 26, 2019
Durham, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing on proposed marine fishing rules at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 15, 2019, at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH.
At the hearing, the Department will be taking public comment on a variety of proposed rules including:
- Increasing the haddock bag limit and open season duration for recreational anglers.
- Allowing a bag limit of one Atlantic cod per day during the periods of September 15-30 and April 15-30 for recreational anglers with a minimum catch size of 21 inches.
- Implementing differential minimum size limits for male and female shortfin mako sharks.
- Requiring all recreational anglers fishing for sharks with bait to use corrodible non-offset circle hooks.
- Increasing the length of the Atlantic herring spawning closure to 6 weeks and implementing more conservative closure and reclosure triggers.
The proposed rules are the result of both federal and interstate fisheries management actions and would make the rules for these species in New Hampshire state waters comparable to rules in federal waters and waters of neighboring states. The complete rulemaking notice and proposed rule language can be viewed at www.wildnh.com/legislative/proposed-rules.html.
Written comments may be submitted up until 4 p.m. on July 18, 2019. Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Director, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301, faxed to (603) 271-5829, or emailed to comments@wildlife.nh.gov using the subject line Comments on Marine Rules.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Learn more at www.wildnh.com/marine.