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Chapter 7 - Demersal FishYellowtail flounder were distributed throughout muchof the region, with highest numbers occurring along theeastern part of Georges Bank and through SouthernNew England to shelf waters as far south as DelawareBay (Figure 7-21a, b). High numbers were also foundwithin the nearshore water of the Gulf of Maine, primarilyaround Massachusetts Bay and the StellwagenBank/Jeffreys Ledge area. Statistical analyses identifieda declining trend over the time series over much of theSouthern New England area and western Georges Bank,while trends were mixed on eastern Georges Bank and inthe Gulf of Maine (Figure 7-21c, d). Weighted persistenceanalyses for yellowtail flounder identified nearshore watersfrom Massachusetts Bay to Chatham, Massachusetts,and the Northern Edge, Northeast Peak, and southernflank of Georges Bank, and a narrow band at 30-40fathoms extending from the Great South Channel andNantucket Shoals to Sandy Hook, New Jersey as importantareas (Figure 7-22).ABFigure 7-22. Areas with high persistence and abundance over 40 years for yellowtail flounder during the spring andfall seasons.Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report 7-27