About the Festival

It's a great party!
We believe having an unforgettable day together -- enjoying tastings, dancing and singing along to live music, meeting our fishermen, playing games, and more, on the historic waterfront in a joyous crowd of friends,  families, neighbors and community leaders -- is the best way to showcase and promote this incredible resource, and to understand why it matters to our community.

Our mission
The NH Fish & Lobster Festival brings together the community to celebrate, educate, and build connections to the local fishing industry.

We do it together
The NH Fish & Lobster Festival is produced by a diverse group of stakeholders and supporters. Though the individual members of this group approach the event from many perspectives, all participants hold in common a set of values which guide our practice and decision-making.

1. We value the sense of community that unites all residents of the Seacoast and recognizes our shared stake in the region's future.
2. We value collaboration and cooperation.  Each individual and group involved in the event brings unique knowledge and capacity. We recognize our varied strengths and work together to make the most of them.
3. We value our role in creating positive change for those working in the fishing industry and related fields, for the health of the fisheries, and for consumers.
4. We value the festival's focus on fishing, and dedicate the festival to supporting the continued presence of active commercial fishing in NH,
5. We value an atmosphere that encourages a free exchange of ideas, giving everyone involved an equal voice in the process regardless of background, age, experience, profession, beliefs, or any other characteristic.  
6. In our approach to the work of the festival, we value passion, joy, and a sense of fun. We commit to maintaining an atmosphere of respect for one another and support for mutual goals.

You will have your own compelling reasons to be here, and that is great, too. Let us know what connects you to the industry, and why are you passionate about it!

About Us
The Steering Committee ensures the festival achieves its mission. Our broad-reaching Community Committee brings time, energy and inspiration to the table to ensure the festival is a highlight of the year for all who attend and participate.

Steering Committee

Representing Culture and Heritage
Prescott Park Arts Festival is the fiscal and physical home of the festival, while making room for it to remain a grassroots and community-organized event. The primary objective of Prescott Park Arts Festival is to provide quality family entertainment, promote artistic excellence in the community and maintain quality presentations of both entertainment and educational events. Implicit in this charge is the exercise of cultural leadership, sensitivity to the community and fiscal responsibility. Inspired by their unique position on Portsmouth's historic waterfront, right alongside the pier where many boats from the local fleet are berthed, the festival recognized a unique opportunity to provide organizational support to this celebration of our culture and heritage. Contact: Ben Anderson, co-chair.

Representing Local Food and Economy
Seacoast Local, known for the region's "Buy Local" campaign, is devoted to educating the Seacoast about the community benefits of rooting more money locally, in order to increase our region's economic, community and environmental strength. Their role is to be the forum where locally owned, independent businesses come together to lead this transformation, within their own business and across our community. An essential component of a strong economy is a vibrant and diverse local food system. Seacoast Local co-founded to NH Fish and Lobster Festival one of their specific initiatives to increase the capacity of our food system and its role in developing our local, living economy. Contact: Karen Marzloff, co-chair.

Representing Fishing Industry Partners
Granite State FISH seeks to engage the general public and seafood consumers in strengthening the role of New Hampshire fishermen to ensure fishing remains a community-based business based on principles of ecological responsibility, economic sustainability, community stewardship and healthy food systems. At the Festival, through activities, demonstrations, the speakers' tent and more, Granite State FISH helps build bridges between fishermen and the public. Contact: Padi Anderson.

Representing Education Partners
NH Sea Grant provides support, leadership and expertise for marine research, education and extension. A component of the National Sea Grant College Program, it is one of a network of 32 programs promoting the understanding, development, wise use and conservation of our ocean and coastal resources. At the Festival, they provide a variety of demonstrations, support and help lead the boat tours, in addition to providing grant support. Contact: Mark Wiley.

Representing Local Restaurant Partners
Community volunteer Duncan Boyd has spent numerous years in the Seacoast restaurant community, most notably at his venture Victory, known for its use of fresh local ingredients and curiously addictive lobster mac and cheese. To the festival, he brings his passion, knowledge and expertise for building the local food system, not to mention what he's learned as a recreational salt water fisherman. Contact: Duncan Boyd.

Community Committee
NH Commercial Fishermen's Association: Erik Anderson
NH Sectors: Josh Wiersma
Community volunteers: Amy Abbott, Robin Bettencourt, Erik Chapman, Elizabeth Farish

For more information on participation or supporting Fishtival, please email us as food@seacoastlocal.org.