Massachusetts Commercial Summer Flounder Fishery Closure

The 2018 commercial summer flounder quota allocated to Massachusetts has been harvested. Effective 0001 hours August 14, 2018, fishing vessels issued a federal moratorium permit for the summer flounder fishery may no longer land summer flounder in Massachusetts for the remainder of the 2018 calendar year. This closure is concurrent with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ closure of its commercial summer flounder fishery to state permitted vessels and dealers, effective 0001 hours on August 14, 2018.

Vessel owners issued federal permits must continue to complete and submit vessel logbooks for all other species landed. Additionally, dealers issued federal permits for summer flounder may not purchase summer flounder from federally permitted vessels that land in Massachusetts for the remainder of the calendar year. Federally permitted dealers must also continue to report all fish purchases from any vessel.

For small entity compliance guides, this bulletin complies with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996. This notice is authorized by the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Region.