Fluke Quote: Response from Senator Menendez

[joerosa1]

Surprise email (form letter) response from Senator Menendez regarding a submitted letter to your Senator and Representative from Keep America Fishing

https://keepamericafishing.org/summer-flounder
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Dear Mr. Rosa :

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding summer flounder quotas. Your opinion is very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this critical issue.

As you know, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) recently finalized a rule that would see summer flounder quotas reduced by 29% in 2017 and an additional 16 % in 2018. I recently sent a letter with some of my colleagues from New Jersey to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker requesting a delay in any reductions in summer flounder quotas until NOAA Fisheries can reexamine its methodology and conduct a new benchmark stock assessment for summer flounder.

While I believe that we must sustainably manage our fisheries, our management strategies must be grounded in sound scientific data. Reductions to fishing quotas can have broad reaching consequences for our shore communities, and should be implemented in ways that minimize local impacts. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor the developing situation with summer flounder quotas, and will keep your thoughts squarely in mind moving forward.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance. I invite you to visit my website ( http://menendez.senate.gov ) to learn more about how I am standing up for New Jersey families in the United States Senate.