New Hampshire closes 20 acres of Great Bay to shellfish harvesting
The five-year closure aims to protect two oyster restoration sites near Woodman Point and Nannie Island.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department announced on October 29, 2026, that 20 acres of Great Bay will be closed to shellfish harvesting. The restriction will run from November 1, 2026, until October 31, 2031, according to a report by the Times of India.
The closure covers two specific restoration sites: a 5-acre area near Woodman Point and a 15-acre area near Nannie Island. These areas are being protected to allow scientists to rebuild reef habitats without disturbance.
The decision was made in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire and The Nature Conservancy. While these specific sections are off-limits, existing natural oyster reefs remain open to recreational harvesters.
The effort addresses a decline in eastern oyster reefs in the region. The Nature Conservancy noted that Great Bay may have had 1,000 acres of living oyster reefs in 1970, but more than 90 per cent were lost due to disease, harvesting and pollution.
Restoration work involves researchers, conservation organisations and local oyster farmers. The Nature Conservancy's programme includes placing oyster larvae on shells, raising juvenile oysters and introducing them to restored sites.
The five-year restriction is intended to give the ecosystem time to recover and allow restoration sites to develop while monitoring continues.