Since 2003, NOAA Fisheries' Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) has had the privilege of working with nearly 2 dozen commercial fishing vessels and captains to tag yellowtail flounder throughout New England. The collaborations have been inclusive, rewarding and productive from the beginning and the Science Center looks forward to continuing and strengthening these mutually beneficial partnerships.

The yellowtail flounder fishery is one of the most valuable and productive in New England, however more information is needed for accurate assessments and management plans. The major goals of this tagging program are to:

1. Estimate yellowtail movement between the 3 stock areas: Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England/Mid Atlantic,
2. Estimate mortality rates within the stock areas,
3. Observe growth and behaviour.
   

• 2004 proposal
• 2005 proposal
• 2006 proposal