Pallone Decries NOAA’s Restrictive Summer Flounder Quota

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) decried the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) final rule on 2016 summer flounder catch limits released today. Under the rule, the summer flounder acceptable catch limit is being reduced by 30 percent, from 23 million pounds to 16 million pounds.

“I am most disappointed in the restrictive rule for our commercial and recreational fishermen in New Jersey. They depend on a sufficient summer flounder quota and without one, New Jersey’s economy faces a threat as it continues to rebound from Superstorm Sandy,” said Congressman Pallone. “I am fully committed to working with my New Jersey colleagues and pressing NOAA for more favorable catch limits in the future.”

Earlier this year, Pallone submitted a letter to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which reviews the quota process prior to NOAA. In his letter, which was signed by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), Pallone requested less restrictive quota limits for summer flounder stock. The letter is available HERE.