Maine flounder quota gone: commercial season closed till New Year's
Published Date: 10/13/2026
Rule
Summary
The 2026 summer flounder commercial fishing quota for Maine has been fully caught, so commercial fishing boats can’t land summer flounder there for the rest of the year unless more quota is shared from another state. This temporary closure starts October 13, 2026, and lasts until December 31, 2026. Fishermen and dealers in Maine need to follow this rule to keep the fishery healthy and fair.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Maine summer flounder landings closed Oct–Dec
If you operate a vessel with a Federal commercial summer flounder permit, you may not land summer flounder in Maine starting 0001 hours on October 13, 2026 through December 31, 2026, unless additional quota is transferred and announced in the Federal Register. This closure applies for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year unless a quota transfer from another state becomes available.
Federally permitted dealers barred from Maine purchases
If you are a federally permitted seafood dealer, you may not purchase summer flounder from federally permitted vessels that land in Maine beginning 0001 hours on October 13, 2026 through December 31, 2026, unless additional quota is transferred and announced in the Federal Register. The prohibition applies for commercial purchases or other commercial receipt of summer flounder landed in Maine during that period.
Maine's 2026 summer flounder quota was 15,283 lb
The total 2026 commercial summer flounder quota was set at 12,765,277 lb, and Maine's allocated share was 15,283 lb. NMFS determined that Maine's 15,283 lb allocation has been fully harvested, which triggered the October 13, 2026 through December 31, 2026 closure.
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