Comment from bill archer, capt tiny charters

August 11, 2008 John Boreman, Director Office of Science and Technology NMFS 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attn: Gordon Colvin Fax: 301-713-1875 RE: RIN 0648-AW10 Mr. Boreman: I dock at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City Florida. Just down from my slip (number 77) is a very popular boat ramp. The number of private recreational boats that use this ramp is phenomenal. In the afternoons when I return from fishing there may a dozen or more private boats 16' to 24' waiting outside the ramp to retrieve there vessels after a day of fishing. My question is who keeps count of these vessels and collects data on the numbers of anglers and types of trips, fish, etc., they catch? I support the efforts of the NMFS to obtain more accurate saltwater recreational fishing data and believe the proposed national angler registry is a step in the right direction is securing that data. We agree with the stated purpose to create a registry of all recreational and for-hire saltwater anglers together with federal and state agencies in order to collect the accurate effort, catch, and other data necessary to improve the management of our fishery. I personally believe there needs to be more required of the private angler in the way of record-keeping in order to collect the data you need to improve its accuracy. A simple brochure explaining the purpose of the data and the need to have accurate information for all fishing trips made, not just the ‘best’ or ‘worst’ fishing days’ catches. Each angler could be given a registrant number, a number to call and/or an email address to report the information. It could be called in from a cell phone on the way in from the trip to a data collection operator. If anglers are educated to the importance of the accurate data and the data is not used against the fishery at a later time, most will want to comply. I agree with the position of the CCGF that we will only be supportive of “the use of these registrations, licenses, permits, etc., for the sole purpose of data collection and do not support any effort, now or in the future, to use these registrations, licenses, permits, etc., to restrict access to any fishery resource, state or federal. It should remain abundantly clear in your regulation that your proposal is for information and data collection purposes only and that no fishing restrictions shall be applied to these registrations.” Thank you for the privilege to comment on these issues that are so important to our industry and to our livelihood. Sincerely, Captain Bill Archer