Section Fis 602.17 - Commercial Lobster Helper(a) The requirement of this section shall not apply to persons on vessels permitted by National Marine Fisheries to trap American lobster.(b) Helpers under this section shall not be persons who hold a part time commercial license to take lobster that only allows the use of 100 traps.(c) Whenever more than one person holds a commercial lobster license, whether it is commercial lobster license or limited commercial lobster license for 600 traps, and the licensees are simultaneously on board and utilizing a single vessel, the taking of lobsters and crabs shall be prohibited except as specified in (d) through (g).(d) Two persons who each hold a commercial lobster license, whether it is a commercial lobster license or a limited commercial lobster license which allows the use of 600 traps, and who each have verified landings of lobster in New Hampshire for any 2 years of the previous 3 years, may fish together on the same vessel as follows: (1) The licensee whose traps are to be fished to take lobsters and crabs shall have obtained a letter of authorization as specified in (e) from the executive director to allow the other licensee to be the licensee's lobster helper;(2) The licensee also shall have obtained a helpers license pursuant to RSA 211:20 to use a helper; and(3) The letter of authorization shall be on board the vessel whenever the 2 licensees listed in the letter are on board the vessel at the same time.(e) The licensee in (d) (1) shall request a letter of authorization from the executive director by providing in writing the following: (1) The licensee's name and license number;(2) The name of the vessel and the registration number and/or USCG documentation number which will be used for the taking of lobsters and crabs; and(3) The name and commercial or limited commercial license number of the person who will be used as a helper.(f) A person shall not request nor hold more than one letter of authorization from the executive director at any given time.(g) If there are 2 licensees with authorization letters utilizing the same vessel to haul lobster gear, only one licensee's gear shall be hauled in a calendar day.N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 602.17
#7464, eff 3-23-01; ss by #9425, eff 3-17-09; ss by #9703, eff 5-1-10
Amended by Volume XXXVIII Number 45, Filed November 8, 2018, Proposed by #12655, Effective 11/1/2018.