Link to DEM Home Page Link to State of RI web site RIDEM graphical banner, showing land and water scene
Navigation button, HomeNavigation button, ProgramsNavigation button, TopicsNavigation button, MapsNavigation button, PublicationsNavigation button, NewsNavigation button, EventsNavigation button, SearchNavigation button, HelpNavigation button, Contact
Home > News > News Item


Other Fisheries Topics
  
News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: December 12, 2001
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES FULL QUOTA OF SUMMER FLOUNDER HARVESTED; FISHERY TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that the commercial fishery for summer flounder, also known as fluke, will close on Saturday, December 15 because this year's November - December quota of 303,879 pounds allocated by the RI Marine Fisheries Council has been reached. It will reopen on January 1 within a new quota period, with a daily catch limit of 700 pounds.

A quota of 1.74 million pounds was allocated to Rhode Island for 2001 by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as part of their coast-wide federal quota to manage the species. Rhode Island's quota is sub-divided by the state Marine Fisheries Council into seasonal periods, each with its own catch allocation, to ensure the availability of fish to commercial fishermen and consumers throughout as much of the year as possible. The quota for 2002 will be 2.2 million pounds.

The state's recreational fluke fishery has also been closed. This year's recreational summer flounder fishing season ran from May 26 through September 3.

-30-
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer