N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 602.08

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024
Section Fis 602.08 - Lobster Landing and Possession Limits
(a) The following definitions shall apply to this section:
(1) "Day" means any 24 hour period or portion of that 24 hour period, for example, one day means 24 hours or less, 2 days means 24 to 48 hours, 3 days means 48 to 72 hours, 4 days means 72 to 96 hours and 5 days means 96 to 120 hours;
(2) "Holding car" means any container, enclosure, crate, or any other contrivances designed to hold and store lobster away from the vessel;
(3) "Net hauler" means any device capable of pulling all or portions of gillnets out of the water for the purpose of removing catches of lobster and fish; and
(4) "Rigged for netting" means a vessel having a trawl net and doors on board the vessel.
(b) No vessel shall land or possess more than the following amounts of lobster taken by non-trap legal methods:
(1) 100 lobsters per day;
(2) 500 lobsters for any fishing trip 5 days or longer; or
(3) 100 lobsters for any fishing trip when the duration of the trip in number of hours cannot be documented by the department.
(c) Any vessel landing lobsters which is rigged for netting or equipped with a net hauler and has both lobster and fish in possession shall be subject to the lobster limits specified in (b).
(d) Any vessel landing lobsters taken by any gear other than pots or traps during any fishing trip shall document the hourly duration of the fishing trip through vessel reports or the call-in system under the days at sea notification requirements pursuant to 50 CFR 648.10. These records shall be kept on board the vessel and shall be made available for inspection by any agent of the director.
(e) A vessel may possess lobsters, caught by non-trap legal methods, to exceed more than 100 lobsters per day provided:
(1) Lobsters shall be held separate from the fishing vessel in holding cars;
(2) The limits specified in (b) shall not be exceeded for any trip;
(3) That prior to putting the lobsters in the holding car, the fishermen shall notify a conservation officer of their intent to car lobster and the location of the holding cars;
(4) Not more than 100 lobsters are in possession for each day of fishing following notification; and
(5) Not more than 500 lobsters are in possession at any one time.

N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 602.08

#1878, eff 12-4-81; rpld by #2105, eff 8-1-82

New. #6594, eff 10-1-97; ss by #8088, EXEMPT, eff 5-24-04