Commercial fishermen in New England are being allowed higher catch limits on yellowtail flounder, the result of legislation recently signed by President Obama aimed at leading to more equitable catch limits for U.S. fishermen in grounds shared with Canada.
The quota for yellowtail flounder will be increased to 2.5 million pounds, an 18 percent increase over 2010 levels and a 44 percent increase over the quota that fishermen originally expected to receive for the 2011 fishing year.
Maine 1st District Rep. Chellie Pingree says the higher flounder limit will benefit Maine fishermen in other ways. She says since haddock and scallop are typically caught at the same time as flounder, a limit on flounder is effectively a limit on haddock, scallop and other valuable species.
"Allowing New England fishermen to catch more fish will provide a critical boost when they really need it," Pingree says in a statement. "I'm please the Obama Administration negotiated these higher limits with Canada."
To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
Photo courtesy of NOAA, Yellowtail Flounder Cooperative Tagging Program