Herring fishermen and dealers should be aware that herring spawning areas within the jurisdiction of New Hampshire will be closed from 12:01 a.m. on September 21, 2009, through 12:01 a.m. on October 20, 2009 (pursuant to closure regulations Fis 603.07), according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. This spawning closure may be extended if results of the herring samples collected at the end of the closure indicate that 25% or more, by number, of mature female sea herring still contain spawn.

An exception to the spawning closures is that any vessel may land herring taken as an incidental catch in ASMFC Management Area 1A, up to a maximum of 2,000 pounds. 

For more information about the closures, call N.H. Fish and Game's Marine Fisheries Division, located in the Department's Region 3 Office in Durham, at (603) 868-1095. 

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state's marine, fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.WildNH.com/marine.