The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors will host a commercial marine licensing event Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, at the Dover DMV office, 50 Boston Harbor Road, officials said Monday.
what the event provides
- Buy annual commercial fishing licenses issued by Fish and Game.
- Obtain mooring and pier use permits from the Pease Development Authority.
- Register vessels and renew registrations through the DMV.
The licensing day will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.. Fish and Game said the event is intended as a convenient, single location for members of the commercial fishing industry to complete multiple transactions that are otherwise handled at separate offices.
payment rules, documentation and requirements
Officials emphasized different payment rules for each agency: Fish and Game and the Pease Development Authority will accept only check or exact cash for commercial fishing licenses and for mooring and pier permits; credit and debit cards will not be accepted for those items. The DMV will accept credit cards (MasterCard, Visa and American Express) for vessel registrations and also will accept cash or check, the release said.
Fish and Game warned that commercial licenses with reporting requirements will not be issued if reporting is not up to date. Anglers or license applicants who received a boat registration renewal notice should bring it; otherwise they must bring a current registration and valid photo ID.
The department also said anyone who did not participate in the April 2026 trap cleanup must add the derelict gear surcharge to lobster, crab, lobster helper and other commercial saltwater licenses. Fish and Game staff will have a list of attendees who are exempt from that surcharge.
logistics and RSVP
- Space and time at the event are limited; attendees are asked to RSVP to Fish and Game’s Region 3 office by email at Reg3@wildlife.nh.gov or by calling 603-868-1095, indicating which licenses they plan to purchase.
- License applications have been updated and are available online at the Fish and Game website under Marine Licenses and Permits; applicants are encouraged to bring completed forms.
- Weather-related cancellation decisions will be made by 4:00 p.m. the day before the event; notices will be posted at www.wildlife.nh.gov.
For more information, Fish and Game Region 3 can be reached at 603-868-1095; the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors at the contact listed in the department release; and the Dover DMV at 603-227-4030.
The licensing day is scheduled as a single morning session to streamline state services for commercial fishermen and vessel owners in the Seacoast region ahead of the 2027 season.
