Comment from Garland Ring, Concerned Citizen

I was greatly alarmed at the bulletin FB08-042 about Ammendment 14. As a concerned citizen I am greatly distressed at this proposal that would be so economically devastating to all communities along the coast of Florida, especially here in the Keys. Every business would be destroyed and tourism would be brought to a halt if such a great area were shut off to fishing. As this concerns everyone living along coastal areas, a proposal of this magnitude should never be implemented with such limited notification and short time frame for public input. No one but commercial fishermen have even heard of this in my area and yet everyone will be affected. Also, it seems extremely irresponsible to propose such a massive closure that will affect so many people with so limited scientific data concerning these deep water fish. It appears that the only information you have about these species of fish come from the very people that you are trying to shut down from fishing.