New Hampshire
New Hampshire will not follow new lobster harvesting rules, Governor Ayotte says – The Boston Globe
The guidelines were meant to protect the lobster population in the Gulf of Maine after the commission found a 39 percent decrease in the spawning stock when comparing 2020-2022 to 2016-2018.
The new rules were intended to cover three states that fish in the Gulf of Maine: Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. But now officials in both Maine and New Hampshire have said they won’t adopt the new rules. Massachusetts has yet to weigh in.
“I suspect there may be some changes at the February ASFMC meetings in D.C., given the state action,” said David H. Watters, a Democratic state senator from Dover, who also represents New Hampshire on the fisheries commission.
The controversial rules have already been delayed and are scheduled to take effect over a two-year period, starting July 1, when the minimum catchable lobster would increase by 1/16 of an inch. It would go up again on July 1, 2027.
Watters said the updated rules were part of efforts to make sure fishing in the Gulf of Maine is sustainable and that lobster populations aren’t depleted. He said while lobster supplies look good now, there have been a few years where lobster spawning has been very poor, which could be related to warming waters in the Gulf of Maine.
Because it takes between 5 and 7 years for lobsters to grow to catchable size, it will take some time for the effects to surface.
“I think we are facing potential real difficulties with the fishery,” Watters said. In the coming years, he said, “There might be a whole lot fewer lobsters.”
But Ayotte called the new rules unnecessary and disruptive. She said they could cause lobstermen to lose a third of their catch and they would put New Hampshire fishermen at a competitive disadvantage with Canada, where the same regulations don’t apply.
American lobster is the top seafood species harvested by New Hampshire fishermen, both in terms of its economic value and by weight, according to a report from New England Feeding New England. In 2023, over 6 million pounds were harvested by commercial operations, worth about $39.5 million.
Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.
New Hampshire
Photo Exhibit | Art Talk | Crew Competition | Nashua Genealogy Club | More: Week Ahead Events
NASHUA, NH — Here is the week ahead roundup.
Get out, New Hampshire.
Event listings are free on one Patch site. You can share your calendar info on other community sites for a modest fee, starting at 25 cents per day. To get started, visit the Events link on the front page of all Patch sites. Statewide calendar roundups are published on most Sundays and Wednesdays. Visit any of the 223 New Hampshire Patch Event sites (patch.com/map/new-hampshire) for updated listings.
Join us for a community conversation exploring how land conservation supports thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and local economies. Recent research from Maine highlights the growing economic value of conserved lands — from supporting recreation, forestry, agriculture, and tourism to protecting clean water, storing carbon, and strengthening climate resilience. The findings reveal something important: protecting natural landscapes is not only good for the environment, but also for the people and communities that depend on them.
Together, we’ll explore what this research means both regionally and here at home. How do conserved lands shape our quality of life, local economy, and sense of place? How can communities balance growth, conservation, and long-term sustainability? And what role can each of us play in protecting the landscapes that support both nature and people?
At each “Let’s Talk Nature” gathering, we share a short article in advance and come together for an informal, welcoming discussion. Each session stands on its own, and everyone is welcome. No expertise needed. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to listen and share. Drinks and cookies provided.
Read this session’s article: Conserved Land in Maine has Growing Economic Power
Grey Rocks Conservation Center
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM on Wed, 1 Jul 2026
Event Supported By
Newfound Lake Region Association
603-744-8689
info@NewfoundLake.org
High winds and widespread rain contributed to more than 12,000 power outages Saturday as a low pressure system passes over New Hampshire.
A high wind advisory remains in effect for southeastern New Hampshire until midday.
There is a high surf advisory in effect for the Seacoast area until 8 p.m. Saturday, with large-breaking waves in the range of 6-9 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast warns of dangerous wintry winds for hikers and campers, with heavy wet snow likely at higher elevations and a foot of snow possible on summits in the White Mountains.
In southeastern New Hampshire, the wind advisory calls for steady winds of 15-25 mph, and potential wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Eversource reported over 10,000 outages as of 9:30 a.m. Unitil had about 1,400 outages at that time.
The Mount Washington Observatory has recorded winterlike weather over the past 24 hours. Weather observers there say over half a foot of snow and sleet has fallen at the summit.
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