Hi Folks,This one is important ! This is compiled of a lot of stuff cut and pasted from Dave Dodsworth’s Offshore Fishing Reports and Newsletter of 2009. Participating in this will get US fishermen more tuna quota. There is a deadline of March 4 too, so get on it if you can. Thanks ! Our Bluefin Tuna tuna quota is under attack by our own good deeds. We have for years been more conservative with Atlantic Bluefin harvest than other nations. It is now going to bite us in the rear end as, if quota is not used, it now gets redistributed to nations harvesting their annual quotas.
Please, either attend the NMFS Hearing on March 4th (3 to 5 pm), Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA, OR send a copy of the sample attached letter to: Attn: Sarah McLaughlin Mail: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930 You may submit letters and comments, identified by "0648-AX12", by any one of the following methods:
1. Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov (very confusing link) - try this instead: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=090000648085ddf3. Then enter the personal info and cut and paste the letter into the comments box.
2. Fax: 978-281-9340, Attn: Sarah McLaughlin Mail: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930
Here is a sample letter:
re: "0648-AX12"- 2009 Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quota Specifications and Effort Controls
Dear Ms. McLaughlin:
I am writing to you to express my concern regarding the NMFS proposed rules pertaining to the 2009 bluefin tuna quotas. In light of ICCAT's "use it or lose it" BFT quota policy, I ask that the NMFS assist US fishermen to retain US quota. There are several measures that NMFS can take to help increase in the harvest of US fishermen, these include:
1. Increase the number of BFT retained recreationally from one fish to two fish per day. Specifically, one fish between 27" and <47" and one fish between 47" and <73".
2. Allow the Charter/Headboat Category to fish both recreationally and commercially in the same day and on the same trip.
3. Allow the sale of BFT based on 65" CFL instead of 73".
4. Allow General Category BFT fisherman to land up to three fish per day for each day of the trip (i.e. 2 days = 6 fish).
5. Allow leasing or “chartering” of US quota by non us boats. ( the quota caught would be applied to US quota totals)
I believe the implementation of any or all of these measures would help enable US fishermen to reach their allotted quota and help prevent ICCAT from transferring the quota to other countries. The fishing interests of Americans are at stake along with thousands of US jobs.
Please ease the NMFS effort controls associated with BFT and help the US retain this valuable natural resource.
Sincerely,
(your name &address)
Thanks folks,
Bruce & Marilyn S
