Comment from Karen Bush, No affiliation

Dear Dr. Balsinger, et al, I felt compelled to write to you today after seeing press releases from the Pew Organization claiming they represent the interests of fishermen in their submission of comments on the proposed NEPA process changes. As a recreational fisherman, I have watched groups like Pew and others it funds completely co-opt the fisheries management process, continually demonizing fishermen to fisheries managers, and rattling their lawsuit sabres to intimidate fisheries managers into slitting the throat of the fishing public in the interest of meeting arbitrary timeframes. They painted fishermen as pirates and thieves, and when fishermen finally began to stand up for themselves, they took the tack of claiming they represent the interests of fishermen and the interests of their future. Let me assure you that the recreational and commercial fishermen I know do not support the assertions of Pew that the proposed NEPA changes are a danger to fishermen. They are very necessary changes that will allow fisheries managers to react in real time to what is happening in the ocean. The proposed NEPA changes will wrest control of the process from Pew and return it to the fisheries managers -- where it belongs. We need to get back to managing our fisheries through common sense, not "the sky is falling" predictions of pseudo-science funded by organizations whose goal is to stop all fishing by US fishermen. Please stick to your principles and move forward with the proposed changes. Thank you for your time and attention. Respectfully, Karen E. Bush