Comment by Steven Guard on RIN 0648-AV58

I have with much concern considered the proposed rule changes for the 2008 Atlantic BFT season. It is not the proposed changes that concern me but rather the lack of change. With the continued under harvest of BFT, I would think a greater limitation on the daily retention would be appropriate. I understand and am sympathetic to the plight of the commercial BFT fisherman, but do think the retention limit is too high. I would prefer 2 giants per day. As for the angling permit retention limit (I have a charter/head boat permit) it is absolutely too high. Three fish per day is way too much fish for any one boat. BFT is rarely freezable and a normal person cannot consume the amount of meat yielded from one fish before it goes bad, let alone three. If we want the giants to come back and not see this species disappear from our waters, a recreational fisherman should be limited to one BFT per day under 73 inches and 1 Giant per year. Thanks for considering my comment.