Maine commercial summer flounder landings close after the state quota is caught

Commercial boats may no longer land summer flounder in Maine for the rest of the 2026 fishing year. A NOAA Fisheries bulletin dated Oct. 9, 2026, says the commercial quota allocated to Maine has been harvested. The federal closure took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 13. Landings stay prohibited unless more quota arrives through a transfer and NOAA announces that transfer in the Federal Register.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources closed the state fishery starting Oct. 7. NOAA said the federal closure lines up with that state action so state and federal rules match.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: NOAA Fisheries — Maine Commercial Summer Flounder Fishery Closure (Oct. 9, 2026; effective Oct. 13, 2026).