SUMMER FLOUNDER. Paralichthys dentatus. Sometimes known as Flounder, Fluke SUMMARY

SUMMER FLOUNDER Paralichthys dentatus Sometimes known as Flounder, Fluke SUMMARY 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. Chef Barton Seaver says that Summer Flounder has a rich meaty flavor with a delicate flake and texture. Good for raw preparations as well as fried, grilled, or sautéed. Criterion Points Final Score Color Life History 2.75 2.40-4.00 Abundance 2.00 1.60-2.39 Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts 0.75 0.00-1.59 Management 3.00 Bycatch 2.50 Final Score 2.20 Color

LIFE HISTORY Core Points (only one selection allowed) If a value for intrinsic rate of increase ( r ) is known, assign the score below based on this value. If no r-value is available, assign the score below for the correct age at 50% maturity for females if specified, or for the correct value of growth rate ('k'). If no estimates of r, age at 50% maturity, or k are available, assign the score below based on maximum age. 1.00 Intrinsic rate of increase <0.05; OR age at 50% maturity >10 years; OR growth rate <0.15; OR maximum age >30 years. 2.00 Intrinsic rate of increase = 0.05-0.15; OR age at 50% maturity = 5-10 years; OR a growth rate = 0.16 0.30; OR maximum age = 11-30 years. 3.00 Intrinsic rate of increase >0.16; OR age at 50% maturity = 1-5 years; OR growth rate >0.30; OR maximum age <11 years. After 2 years, 90% of Summer Flounder are sexually mature and are approximately 25 cm and 32 cm in length for males and females, respectively (Morse 1981, and Terceiro 2001). Growth rates differ between the sexes, with females growing faster and larger, potentially reaching 15-20 years of age and attaining weights of 12 kg (Terceiro 2006, NMFS 2008). Male Summer Flounder maximum age is 12 (NMFS 2008). We could not find any estimates for the intrinsic rate of increase of Summer Flounder. Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) -0.25 Species has special behaviors that make it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., spawning aggregations; site fidelity; segregation by sex; migratory bottlenecks; unusual attraction to gear; etc.). Summer flounder in the Middle Atlantic tend to use the same spawning and wintering areas in successive years and summer in the same inshore areas or in nearby areas to the north and east (VA Tech 1996, and MAFMC 1998). -0.25 Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity >20 years; sequential hermaphrodites; extremely low fecundity).

-0.25 Species has a small or restricted range (e.g., endemism; numerous evolutionarily significant units; restricted to one coastline; e.g., American lobster; striped bass; endemic reef fishes). Summer Flounder inhabit estuarine and coastal waters off the east coast of North America, from the Gulf of Maine to South Carolina (ASMFC 2002, and Terceiro 2006), and possibly into the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Rogers and Van Den Avyle 1983). This species is most abundant in the Middle Atlantic region, from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, where it supports important commercial and recreational fisheries (MAFMC 1998). The numbers of Summer Flounder decrease considerably north of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and south of Cape Fear, North Carolina (NMFS 1999). Summer Flounder stay in bays and estuaries from late spring through early autumn (Terceiro 2006). In the early fall Summer Flounder make an offshore migration towards the outer continental shelf and stay at depths as deep as 150 m (NMFS 1999, and Terceiro 2006). Planktonic Summer Flounder larvae are most abundant at depths of 10 to 70 m, and are found in the northern part of the Middle Atlantic Bight from September to February, and in the southern area from November to May (Smith 1973, and Able et al. 1990). Postlarvae and larvae migrate inshore from October to May and reside in estuarine nursery areas (Able et al. 1990). Juveniles are found in estuaries in the spring, summer and fall and some in the north move offshore in cold months and in the south remain inshore in bays and sounds (Fogarty 1981, Rountree and Able 1992 a and b, 1997, and Able and Kaiser 1994) -0.25 Species exhibits high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g. El Nino; decadal oscillations). +0.25 Species does not have special behaviors that increase ease or population consequences of capture OR has special behaviors that make it less vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., species is widely dispersed during spawning). +0.25 Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially resilient to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity <1 year; extremely high fecundity). Summer Flounder maximizes its reproductive potential by combining high fecundity and early maturation with serial spawning over protracted spawning seasons, and extensive migrations (VA Tech 1996). The median age of maturity for Summer Flounder was determined to be 1.1 years for males and 1.4 years for females, and 1.2 years for both sexes combined (Terceiro 2009). Fecundity increases with size and weight. Morse (1981) estimated that spawning Summer Flounder produce 1,077-1,265 eggs per gram of total weight. Rogers and Van Den Avyle (1983) report estimates of 463,000 to 4,190,000 eggs/fish for females ranging from 366 to 680 mm in length, and 1,670,000 to 1,700,000 million ova/fish for a small sample of females ranging from 506 to 682 mm in length. Powell (1974) estimated Summer Flounder have 1.67-1.70 million ova/fish when females are 506-682 mm total length.

Summer Flounder spawn from autumn to early winter (Terceiro 2006). Water currents transport larvae towards coastal areas and the development of post-larvae and juveniles occurs within bays and estuaries (Terceiro 2006); the most well known of these areas are Pamlico Sound and Chesapeake Bay (Packer et al. 1999). The spawning season occurs in the fall and winter in open areas of the continental shelf (Smith 1973). There is nonsynchronous maturation of females during this season (Morse 1981). Spawning starts in southern New England and the Mid-Atlantic in September and then moves to the Georges Bank, southward and eastward (Berrien and Sibunka 1999). In the northern and southern areas of the Middle Atlantic Bight spawning continues through December and February/March respectively (Smith 1973, Morse 1981, and Almeida et al. 1992). Peaks in spawning occur in October north of the Chesapeake Bay and in November south of the Bay (Smith 1973, and Able et al. 1990). It has been theorized that this half-year breeding cycle lessens the impact of predators and the negative effects of environmental conditions on the eggs and reduces larval crowding (Morse 1981). Larvae are most commonly found in water temperatures ranging from 9 to 18 C (NMFS 1999). Adult Summer Flounder are found in the fall in water temperatures ranging from 9 to 26 C, in the winter from 4-13 C, in the spring from 2-20 C and in the summer from 9-27 C (NMFS 1999). Adults tend to prefer sandy habitats but are also found in muddy areas (NMFS 1999). +0.25 Species is distributed over a very wide range (e.g., throughout an entire hemisphere or ocean basin; e.g., swordfish; tuna; Patagonian toothfish). +0.25 Species does not exhibit high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations). 2.75 Points for Life History

ABUNDANCE Core Points (only one selection allowed) Compared to natural or un-fished level, the species population is: 1.00 Low: Abundance or biomass is <75% of BMSY or similar proxy (e.g., spawning potential ratio). 2.00 Medium: Abundance or biomass is 75-125% of BMSY or similar proxy; OR population is approaching or recovering from an overfished condition; OR adequate information on abundance or biomass is not available. An updated population assessment of Summer Flounder using data through 2008 was conducted in 2009 (Terceiro 2009). The results of the assessment were that Summer Flounder were not overfished and overfishing was not occurring in 2008. The mortality associated with fishing was below the target reference point and the spawning stock biomass (SSB) was about 77% of the target reference point (NMFS 2008, Terceiro 2009). The SSB maximum sustainable yield target reference point is 60,074 mt (NMFS 2008). The year classes from 1982 and 1983 are the largest in the assessment and the year class from 1988 was the smallest, while the 2008 year class was estimated to be the largest to recruit to the stock since 1986 (NMFS 2008, Terceiro 2009). The population is currently under a rebuilding program, based on the results of previous assessments, that has a deadline of January 1, 2013 so we have assigned a medium score (NMFS 2008). 3.00 High: Abundance or biomass is >125% of BMSY or similar proxy. Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) -0.25 The population is declining over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE). Trends from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring trawl surveys indicated that the total population biomass last peaked from 1976 to 1977 (NMFS 2008). Estimates were high in 2007 but dropped by half in 2008 (NMFS 2008). Abundances from the NEFSC autumn trawl surveys were the highest in 1995 (NMFS 2008). Abundances from the NEFSC winter trawl survey have fluctuated over the years and in recent years (2004-2007) have been lower (NMFS 2008). Abundance indices from 2004 to 2007 surveys from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection have been low compared to earlier years (NMFS 2008). The New Jersey Bureau of Marine Fisheries has estimated that most year classes have been around or below average since 1998 and the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and Maryland Department of Natural Resources abundance indices have varied over the years (NMFS 2008). Recruitment

indices from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science surveys have been below average since 1990 (NMFS 2008). -0.25 Age, size or sex distribution is skewed relative to the natural condition (e.g., truncated size/age structure or anomalous sex distribution). -0.25 Species is listed as "overfished" OR species is listed as "depleted", "endangered", or "threatened" by recognized national or international bodies. -0.25 Current levels of abundance are likely to jeopardize the availability of food for other species or cause substantial change in the structure of the associated food web. +0.25 The population is increasing over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE). +0.25 Age, size or sex distribution is functionally normal. Catches of Summer Flounder are dominated by fish ages 1 to 3 and the percentage of Summer Flounder that are 3 years old has increased from 4% to 68% between 1993 and 2007 (Terceiro 2006, and NMFS 2008). There was a reduction in the ages represented in the NEFSC spring trawl surveys from 1976 to 1990 (NMFS 2008). Summer Flounders of age 5-8 were caught frequently from 1976 to 1981 but by 1986 Summer Flounder older than 5 were no longer caught (NMFS 2008). Since the mid-1990s, the age structure of the population has greatly expanded to near the proportions last observed in the late 1970s (Terceiro 2009). +0.25 Species is close to virgin biomass. +0.25 Current levels of abundance provide adequate food for other predators or are not known to affect the structure of the associated food web. Summer Flounder consume fish and crustaceans and are considered opportunistic feeders (NFMS 1999). They are preyed on by large sharks and rays and have a dietary overlap with scup and black sea bass (Musick and Mercer 1977, Gabriel 1989, Shepherd and Terceiro 1994, and NMFS 1999). It is not known what affect their abundance level has on the structure of the associated food web. We have therefore not subtracted or added any points. 2.00 Points for Abundance

HABITAT QUALITY AND FISHING GEAR IMPACTS Core Points (only one selection allowed) Select the option that most accurately describes the effect of the fishing method upon the habitat that it affects 1.00 The fishing method causes great damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., cyanide; blasting; bottom trawling; dredging). The commercial fishery primarily uses otter trawls targeting mixed-species aggregations, but pound nets and gill nets are also used in the estuarine waters of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina (ASMFC 2002). Summer Flounder are targeted in inshore waters during the summer and offshore during the winter (ASMFC 2003). The summer trawl fishery fishes within the 100-foot contour while the winter trawl fishery fishes in waters 90 to 300 ft deep and follows migrating Summer Flounder to 600 ft. depths (ASMFC 2003). Trawl nets, and their attachments, can modify benthic habitats and affect benthic fauna, diversity and community structure by crushing, burying and exposing marine organisms (Morgan and Chuenpagdee 2003). Otter trawls also disturb and resuspend sediment, and release nutrients into the water column, increasing the occurrence of algal blooms and decreasing sea grass production (SAFMC 2004). Otter trawling frequently occurs in shallow coastal areas, which serve as nursery grounds for commercially important fish species, and destroys the structural diversity critical for a large array of marine life. 2.00 The fishing method does moderate damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., bottom gillnets; traps and pots; bottom longlines). 3.00 The fishing method does little damage to physical or biogenic habitats (e.g., hand picking; hand raking; hook and line; pelagic long lines; mid-water trawl or gillnet; purse seines). Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) -0.25 Habitat for this species is so compromised from non-fishery impacts that the ability of the habitat to support this species is substantially reduced (e.g., dams; pollution; coastal development). -0.25 Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are not protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc. Critical areas are not protected by time/area closures specifically aimed at protecting Summer Flounder.

-0.25 No efforts are being made to minimize damage from existing gear types OR new or modified gear is increasing habitat damage (e.g., fitting trawls with roller rigs or rockhopping gear; more robust gear for deep-sea fisheries). Efforts are not being made to minimize damage from existing gear types. -0.25 If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is very slow (e.g., deep water corals; rocky bottoms). +0.25 Habitat for this species remains robust and viable and is capable of supporting this species. +0.25 Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc. +0.25 Gear innovations are being implemented over a majority of the fishing area to minimize damage from gear types OR no innovations necessary because gear effects are minimal. +0.25 If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is fast (e.g., mud or sandy bottoms) OR gear effects are minimal. Summer flounder prefer a sandy bottom substrate, but are also found over a variety of muddy and sandy bottom habitats, including marsh creeks, seagrass beds, and flats (NMFS 1999). These habitats are more resilient than others to the affects of gear impacts. 0.75 Points for Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

MANAGEMENT Core Points (only one selection allowed) Select the option that most accurately describes the current management of the fisheries of this species. 1.00 Regulations are ineffective (e.g., illegal fishing or overfishing is occurring) OR the fishery is unregulated (i.e., no control rules are in effect). 2.00 Management measures are in place over a major portion over the species' range but implementation has not met conservation goals OR management measures are in place but have not been in place long enough to determine if they are likely to achieve conservation and sustainability goals. Summer Flounder fisheries are managed jointly by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The original Fishery Management Plans were put into place by the ASMFC and MAFMC in 1982 and 1988 respectively (Kerns 2006). Many amendments and adjustments have been made to these plans over the years (Kerns 2006). Quotas, limited entry, minimum size limits, and gear restrictions are in place for the commercial fisheries. Specific management measures include: a 14 minimum size, 5.5 diamond and 6 square minimum mesh size and threshold, state quotas, prohibition on the transfer of Summer Flounder between vessels at sea, and individual states must provide a detailed description of the management measures they will use each year (Kerns 2006). We have given Summer Flounder a medium score because although management efforts are in place, the species is currently rebuilding from overfishing (NMFS 2008). 3.00 Substantial management measures are in place over a large portion of the species range and have demonstrated success in achieving conservation and sustainability goals. Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) -0.25 There is inadequate scientific monitoring of stock status, catch or fishing effort. -0.25 Management does not explicitly address fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems. -0.25 This species is overfished and no recovery plan or an ineffective recovery plan is in place. -0.25 Management has failed to reduce excess capacity in this fishery or implements subsidies that result in excess capacity in this fishery.

+0.25 There is adequate scientific monitoring, analysis and interpretation of stock status, catch and fishing effort. Catches are monitored and stock assessments are performed or updated each year (NMFS 2008, Terceiro 2009). Commercial catches are monitored through logbook reports and fish receipts, supplemented with data collected by National Marine Fisheries scientists and fisheries observers, through a limited sea sampling program. NMFS (1999b) reports that this species is among the best understood and assessed fishery resources in the United States. +0.25 Management explicitly and effectively addresses fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems. Management addressed fishery effects on habitat, food webs and ecosystems. +0.25 This species is overfished and there is a recovery plan (including benchmarks, timetables and methods to evaluate success) in place that is showing signs of success OR recovery plan is not needed. Summer Flounder populations are currently rebuilding from overfishing (NMFS 2008). +0.25 Management has taken action to control excess capacity or reduce subsidies that result in excess capacity OR no measures are necessary because fishery is not overcapitalized. The Summer Flounder fishery is limited entry, which is a management tool used to control excess capacity (Kerns 2006). 3.00 Points for Management

BYCATCH Core Points (only one selection allowed) Select the option that most accurately describes the current level of bycatch and the consequences that result from fishing this species. The term, "bycatch" used in this document excludes incidental catch of a species for which an adequate management framework exists. The terms, "endangered, threatened, or protected," used in this document refer to species status that is determined by national legislation such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (or another nation's equivalent), the IUCN Red List, or a credible scientific body such as the American Fisheries Society. 1.00 Bycatch in this fishery is high (>100% of targeted landings), OR regularly includes a "threatened, endangered or protected species." 2.00 Bycatch in this fishery is moderate (10-99% of targeted landings) AND does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species" OR level of bycatch is unknown. There is a moderate level of bycatch associated with the Summer Flounder fishery. From 2000 to 2004 an estimated 192 sea turtles were taken in this fishery and of these only 5 were taken by vessels equipped with turtle excluder devices (Murray 2008). The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl fisheries are considered Category II (annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the potential biological removal) for marine mammal interactions (NOAA 2009). 3.00 Bycatch in this fishery is low (<10% of targeted landings) and does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species." Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed) -0.25 Bycatch in this fishery is a contributing factor to the decline of "threatened, endangered, or protected species" and no effective measures are being taken to reduce it. -0.25 Bycatch of targeted or non-targeted species (e.g., undersize individuals) in this fishery is high and no measures are being taken to reduce it. -0.25 Bycatch of this species (e.g., undersize individuals) in other fisheries is high OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, and no measures are being taken to reduce it. -0.25 The continued removal of the bycatch species contributes to its decline.

+0.25 Measures taken over a major portion of the species range have been shown to reduce bycatch of "threatened, endangered, or protected species" or bycatch rates are no longer deemed to affect the abundance of the "protected" bycatch species OR no measures needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear). +0.25 There is bycatch of targeted (e.g., undersize individuals) or non-targeted species in this fishery and measures (e.g., gear modifications) have been implemented that have been shown to reduce bycatch over a large portion of the species range OR no measures are needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear). Discards of summer flounder in both directed fisheries and mixed-species fisheries are minimized principally through minimum mesh size restrictions and bycatch allowances. Prior to June 1998, minimum mesh size restrictions applied only to the codend portion of the net. But since that time, those restrictions have applied to the entire net (MAFMC 1998). The majority of discards are 'regulatory' (i.e. result from complying with regulations, such as minimum fish size limits, and quota/trip limits). +0.25 Bycatch of this species in other fisheries is low OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, but effective measures are being taken to reduce it over a large portion of the range. Bycatch of Summer Flounder in the New England groundfish fishery may be reduced due to the use of large mesh sizes (ASMFC 2003). However, the potential to catch Summer Flounder exists as long as location fished and methods used are capable of catching Summer Flounder (ASMFC 2003). Scallop dredge (MAFMC 1998) and shrimp trawl (VA Tech 1996) gear also take summer flounder incidental to their respective target species. Sea scallop dredging and trawl fisheries account for the largest amount of Summer Flounder discards (ASMFC 2003). From 1992 to 2000 Summer Flounder discards in trawls were around 12 % (ASMFC 2003). +0.25 The continued removal of the bycatch species in the targeted fishery has had or will likely have little or no impact on populations of the bycatch species OR there are no significant bycatch concerns because the fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear). 2.50 Points for Bycatch

REFERENCES Able, K.W., Matheson, R.E., Morse, W.W., Fahay, M.P. and Shepherd, G. 1990. Patterns of summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus early life history in the Mid-Atlantic Bight and New Jersey estuaries. Fisheries Bulletin 88:1-12 Able, K.W. and Kaiser, S.C. 1994. Synthesis of summer flounder habitat parameters. NOAA Coastal Ocean Program, Decision Analysis Service 1. NOAA Coastal Ocean Office, Silver Spring, MD. 68 p. Almedia, F.P., Castaneda, R.E., Jesien, Greenfield, R.E. and Burnett, J.M. 1992. Proceedings of the NEFC/ASMFC summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, aging workshop, June 11-12, 1990, Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole, MA. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC- 89. 7 p. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). 2002 (online). Summer Flounder. Available at http://www.asmfc.org/programs/fish%20mgnt/sflounder1.html. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). 2003. Proceedings of the summer flounder bycatch and regulatory discards workshop. Special Report No. 78 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 98 p. Berrien, P. and Sibunka, J. 1999. Distribution patterns of fish eggs in the United States northeast continental shelf ecosystem, 1977-1987. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 145. 310 p. Fogarty, M.J. 1981. Review and assessment of the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) fishery in the northwest Atlantic. U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeaster Fishery Center, Woods Hole Lab Reference Document No. 81. 54 p. Gabriel, W.L. 1989. Persistence in northwesern demersal fish assemblages. Northwest Atlatnic Fisheries Organization Scientific Council Research Document 89/77. 17 p. Kerns, T. 2006. 2006 review of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fishery Management Plan for summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Washington, D.C. 13 p. Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). 1998. Amendment 12 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. October. Morgan, L.E. and Chuenpagdee, R. 2003. Shifting Gears. Addressing the Collateral Impacts of Fishing Methods in U.S. Waters. Pew Science Series on Conservation and the Environment. 52 p. Morse, W.W. 1981. Reproduction of the summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus (L.). Journal of Fish Biology 19:189-203

Murray, K. T. 2008. Estimated average annual bycatch of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in US Mid-Atlantic bottom otter trawl gear, 1996-2004 (second edition). National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 42 p. Online: http://www.nefsc. noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0820/crd0820.pdf Musick, J.A. and Mercer, L.P. 1977. Seasonal distribution of black sea bass, Centropristis striata, in the Mid-Atlantic Bight with comments on the ecology and fisheries of the species. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 106:12-25. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 1999. Essential Fish Habitat source document: summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, life history and habitat characteristics. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-151. 98 p. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 1999b. Our Living Oceans: Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources, 1999. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-F/SPO-41. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2008. 47th Northeast regional Stock Assessment Workshop (47th SAW) assessment summary report. Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 08-11. Online: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0812/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2009. List of Fisheries for 2010. Federal Register Vol. 74 No 111. 50 CFR Part 229. 28 p. Online: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ pdfs/fr/fr74-27739.pdf Packer, D.B., Griesback, S.J., Berrien, P.L., Zeltin, C.A., Johnson, D.L. and Morse, W.W. 1999. Essential fish habitat source document: summer flounder, (), life history and habitat characteristics. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-151. 88 p. Powell, A.B. 1974. Biology of the summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, in Pamlico Sound and adjacent waters, with comments on P. Lethostigma and P. albigutta. M.S. thesis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. 145 p. Rogers, S. G., and M. J. Van Den Avyle. 1983. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Atlantic) -- summer flounder. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. FWS/OBS-82/11.15. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. Rountree, R.A. and Able, K.W. 1992a. Fauna of polyhaline marsh creeks in southern New Jersey: composition, abundance and biomass. Estuaries 15: 171-186. Rountree, R.A. and Able, K.W. 1992b. Foraging habits, growth, and temporal patterns of saltmarsh creek habitat use by young-of-year summer flounder in New Jersey. Transactions of American Fisheries Society 121:765-776 Rountree, R.A. and Able, K.W. 1997. Nocturnal fish use of New Jersey marsh creek and adjacent bay shoal habitats. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Science 44:703-711.

Shepherd, G.R. and Terceiro, M. 1994. The summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fishery of the Middle Atlantic Bight and southern New England waters. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 122. 13 p. Smith, W.G. 1973. The distribution of summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, eggs and larvae on the continental shelf between Cape Cod and Cape Lookout, 1965-66. Fisheries Bulletin 71:527-548 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC). 2004. Final Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Charleston, SC. 305 p. Terceiro, M. 2001. Summer Flounder. In Status of the Fishery Resources of the Northeastern United States. Available online at http://www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/sos/spsyn/fldrs/summer/. Terceiro, M. 2006. Summer flounder. In Status of the Fishery Resources of the Northeastern United States. Online at http://www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/sos/spsyn/fldrs/summer/. Terceiro M. 2009. Stock assessment of summer flounder for 2009. US Dept Commerce, Northeast Fish Science Cent Ref Doc. 09-17; 134 p. Online at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/ publications/ Virginia Tech (VA Tech). 1996 (online). Marine and Coastal Species Information System: Species flounder, summer. Species Id M010006 (draft). Available at http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/www /macsis/lists/m010006.htm.