CONTACT:
John Nelson: (603) 868-1095
Sandra Falicon: (603) 271-3511
December 1, 2005

Dec. 6 Public Hearing on Lobster Trap Limit Proposal

CONCORD, N.H. -- A proposal to limit future limited commercial lobster licenses to 100 traps will be discussed at a public hearing on December 6, 2005, at 7 p.m. at the Urban Forestry Center at 45 Elwyn Road in Portsmouth.

The change would affect new applicants for limited commercial lobster licenses after January 1, 2006. It also would apply to those individuals who have previously held a limited commercial lobster license but did not land at least 1,000 pounds of lobster during any single year through 2005. Currently, limited commercial lobster license holders are allowed to set up to 600 traps.

"The most recent lobster stock assessment found that the Gulf of Maine lobster fishing effort was too high, particularly in nearshore waters, and should be controlled," said John Nelson, Chief of Marine Fisheries for New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Written comments must be received by December 16, 2005. Send to: comments@wildlife.state.nh.us (subject line should be "Comments on Marine Rules"); or Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; or fax (603) 271-1438.

For more information, contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Marine Fisheries Division at (603) 868-1095. Fish and Game is the guardian of the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.

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