Section Fis 603.17 - Sea Urchins(a) No person shall take or possess sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, having shells less than 2 inches in the longest diameter, exclusive of spines, to an amount of more than 5 percent of any bulk pile.(b) The 5 percent tolerance shall be determined by numerical count of not less than one peck nor more than 3 pecks taken at random from various parts of the bulk pile or by the entire pile if it is less than one peck. Sea urchins not meeting this requirement shall be culled immediately after capture and returned immediately to the sea.(c) Sea urchins shall only be taken as follows:(1) By hand or by pot from October 1 through March 15; or(2) By a single sled from December 15 through March 15 as follows: a. The effective fishing width of the sled shall be 48 inches or less;b. The sled shall consist of a metal frame, 4 feet wide or less, followed by a checkerboard sweep either of twine or 1/4 inch chain;c. The sweep shall be 36 inches or less in length with a maximum of 7 inch mesh, followed by a twine bag;d. A tow bar shall be welded to the front of the frame with straps spaced to act as runners; ande. The sled shall not be used in the following waters:1. The Great Bay estuarine system inland of the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth;2. Little Harbor and its tributaries inland of its most seawar jetty;3. Rye Harbor and its tributaries inland of its most seaward jetty; and4. Inland of the Hampton Harbor Bridge; and(3) No possession of other marine species including lobsters, finfish, or shellfish shall be allowed.(d) No person shall take or possess sea urchins from March 16 to September 30.N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 603.17
#5736, eff 11-23-93; ss by #5789, eff 2-18-94; amd by #6176, eff 1-27-96; ss by #6443, eff 5-15-97; ss by #8087, eff 5-27-04; ss by #10095, eff 2-29-12
Amended by Volume XLII Number 28, Filed July 14, 2022, Proposed by #13399, Effective 7/1/2022, Expires 7/1/2032