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The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is proposing an in-season adjustment to decrease the commercial summer flounder trip limit for the 2025 Period I fishery (January 1–April 22) from 5,000 pounds per trip to 2,000 pounds per trip. Additionally, for 2025, DMF is considering action to not reauthorize the so-called “Multi-State Program”. This program allows vessels permitted to land summer flounder in multiple states to possess non-conforming quantities of summer flounder when offloading a state’s limit provided fish destined for each state are segregated and clearly labeled and the limit for each state is not exceeded. Should these actions be taken, DMF anticipates the quota consumption rate for the Period I fishery this coming year will be slowed, a longer season will be achieved, and the risk of an overage of the Period I quota allocation reduced.
The Period I commercial summer flounder fishery is allocated 30% of the state’s annual quota. For 2025 the state’s anticipated annual quota is about 600,000 pounds, with the Period I fishery then receiving approximately 200,000 pounds. This fishery occurs offshore in federal waters and on multi-day trips.
DMF is accepting public comment on these proposed adjustments. Comment will be accepted through 5PM on Friday, December 6, 2024. Written comment may be submitted to Director Daniel McKiernan by e-mail to marine.fish@mass.gov. The Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission will consider adopting this trip limit at its December 17, 2024 virtual business meeting.
For more information on the management of commercial fisheries in Massachusetts, please visit our website: www.mass.gov/marinefisheries
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