New Hampshire officials have announced they are closing an area of Great Bay to shellfishing for the next five years.
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said they are closing a total of 20 acres of Great Bay to shellfish harvest to continue oyster reef restoration efforts in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the University of New Hampshire.
The closure will begin on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and conclude on October 31, 2031.
The 20-acre area is comprised of two restoration sites: a 5-acre site near Woodman Point and a 15-acre site near Nannie Island. Only the 20-acre restoration area will be closed to shellfish harvest.
The remaining Nannie Island oyster reef and the Woodman Point oyster reef are excluded from this closure and will remain open to recreational oyster harvesters.
Officials said the closure will be in effect for five years to increase the likelihood of successful restoration and enhancement of the oyster population at the site.
To learn more about this closure, visit wildlife.nh.gov/saltwater-fisheries-new-hampshire/shellfishing-new-hampshire.