Seafood
Flounder, Summer
Summer flounder inhabit estuarine and coastal waters off the northeast east coast of the US, from the Gulf of Maine to South Carolina. Summer flounder mature early, produce many eggs and spawn often over the spawning season, factors that help keep their abundance at moderate levels. In the commercial fishery, which accounts for about 50% of the total annual catch, bottom trawls are commonly used to catch Summer Flounder. A major rod-and-reel recreational fishery accounts for the rest. Bycatch is low in both fisheries. The Summer Flounder population is currently being rebuilt and is no longer considered to be overfished.
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Flounder, Windowpane
Windowpane Flounder are a fast growing species of flatfish found in the northwest Atlantic from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida. The overall abundance of Windowpane Flounder is currently low, but there is a recovery plan in place to increase numbers. Most Windowpane Flounder are caught by bottom trawls, resulting in moderate levels of bycatch and potentially high levels of habitat damage. However, most trawling occurs in areas subject to high physical disturbance and mitigation methods are in place to reduce damage to the seafloor.
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Flounder, Winter
Winter flounder is a fast growing flatfish, distributed along the Atlantic coast from Labrador to North Carolina. They are typically found in inshore bays and estuaries in the winter and deeper waters in the summer. Spawning migrations to deeper, cooler waters of estuaries or offshore areas occurs in the spring and summer. There are three managed populations of Winter Flounder - Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine and southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Bight – but all are overfished with very low abundance. Winter Flounders are most commonly caught by bottom trawling, often in shallow coastal areas that are important nursery grounds for other commercial fish. Bottom trawling can greatly damage the seafloor.
Learn MoreFlounder, Yellowtail
Yellowtail Flounder is a fast growing flatfish that produces many young and reaches a maximum size of 55 cm (22 inches) and 1 kg (2 lbs). Yellowtail Flounder occur in the Northwest Atlantic from northern Newfoundland to the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay. There are three New England management areas for Yellowtail Flounder, and all three populations are overfished with very low abundance. There are also three management areas in Canadian waters, with at least one population healthy in size. Bottom trawls are the primary fishing gear used to catch Yellowtail Flounder, which can substantially impact the seafloor and benthic community. There is a moderate amount of bycatch caught in the various Yellowtail Flounder fisheries.
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Flounder, Witch
Witch Flounder are a species of flatfish found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They grow slower and live longer than most other flounder species. The overall abundance of Witch Flounder in U.S and Canadian waters is low, with some populations considered collapsed or overfished. Bottom trawls are used to catch Witch Flounder, which damages the sea floor and catches other uncommon flatfish species.
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