The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced a temporary rule allowing North Carolina to transfer a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder quota to Virginia. This transfer, which amounts to 3,520 pounds, was made under mutual agreement between both states to address a situation where an out-of-state vessel landed fish under a safe harbor agreement. The modified quotas for 2025 are now 2,408,923 pounds for North Carolina and 1,877,227 pounds for Virginia. This move complies with the fishery management plan designed to ensure sustainable fishing practices.
Simple Explanation
North Carolina is letting Virginia use some of its allowed fish catch because a fishing boat needed a safe place to stop. Now, North Carolina can catch fewer fish, and Virginia can catch more, to keep things fair and protect the ocean.