Marine Public Hearing April 15 For Lobster, Atlantic Herring Rule Changes

[Brandon-K]

MARINE PUBLIC HEARING APRIL 15 FOR LOBSTER, ATLANTIC HERRING RULE CHANGES

DURHAM, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Marine Fisheries Division will hold a public hearing on proposed rule changes affecting lobster harvesting and Atlantic herring management on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, N.H.

The N.H. Fish and Game Department proposal incorporates into New Hampshire state law management measures recently finalized by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in its Addendum XII to Amendment 3 of the Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster and Addendum I to Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring.

The proposed rules regarding lobster harvesting are designed to prevent expansion of fishing effort into ASMFC's Lobster Conservation Management Area 1 (which includes the waters off of New Hampshire) from the offshore management area and management areas to the south of New Hampshire. In addition, the proposal establishes that lobsters may be taken only by trap in state waters.

The proposed rules for Atlantic herring would give the N.H. Fish and Game Executive Director the authority to set no landing days in the fishery and close the fishery in state waters when seasonal and annual quotas for Atlantic herring have been caught. In addition, the landing of Atlantic herring could only occur once per day. The intent of these rules are to slow the harvest rate for herring so that herring quota will still be available for harvest in the latter half of the year.

Written comments on the proposed changes may be submitted by April 27, 2009. E-mail to comments@wildlife.nh.gov (reference "Comment on Marine Rules" in subject line); fax to (603) 271-1438; or mail to Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.

If you have questions about the public hearing on the proposed marine rule changes, call N.H. Fish and Game Marine Fisheries Chief Doug Grout at (603) 868-1095.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state's marine, fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Visit Marine Resources - N.H. Fish and Game.