Massachusetts gives Rhode Island some of its summer flounder quota

Massachusetts is transferring a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder fishing quota to Rhode Island. This means Rhode Island's fishing industry will have more fish to catch next year, while Massachusetts will have less.

Fishing quotas are usually set at the federal level and are very rigid. This transfer shows that states can negotiate directly to adjust their allocations. It means that local conditions and relationships can sometimes override federal rules, allowing for more flexibility in how fish stocks are managed between neighboring states.