Strengthening NFCs Presence in New Hampshire and Vermont...

We are looking to increase the size of, and strengthen, our New Hampshire and Vermont Boards and Advisory Councils to help move wild critically important native fish initiatives in those states forward.

Unfortunately, New Hampshire and Vermont have compromised their wild native fish resources to a point where support for such is dangerously lacking. As a result, there is very little good news and fat too much bad news.

Wild native fish in New Hampshire and Vermont are in trouble. Federal efforts to restore critically endangered Atlantic salmon in both states have been suspended due to poor returns, and wild native brook trout have been lost in most lakes, ponds, and large rivers, leaving only small stream populations. 

Stocking, including nonnative trout, angler exploitation, a lack of formal protections, and habitat degradation caused by increased and more extreme high water events have taken their toll on New Hampshire's and Vermont's wild native brook trout. 

While New Hampshire has a formal wild trout management program, it is on life support at best.  Specifically, there are just 16 so designated waters and no waters have been added in thirteen years. There are also gaping geographic holes including the White Mountain Region, arguably the stronghold for the states remaining wild native brook trout, and Pittsburg, the states most important recreational fishing destination.

In the case of Vermont, there is no formal wild trout program and native brook trout in rivers and streams are subject to a 12-fish daily limit, by far the highest in the entire native brook trout range. The state is also providing a higher level of protection to nonnative and stocked trout than it is wild native trout. And a recent attempt to close a hatchery for budgetary reasons was met with huge resistance, including from within the trout conservation community.

If you live in New Hampshire or Vermont and are interested in the preservation of wild native fish, and would be interested in being considered for a board or advisory council position with NFC in one of these states, please email us.

A timeline of New Hampshire’s faltering Wild Trout Management Program

How Vermont stacks up against other states in native brook trout range regarding daily bag limits