Comment from Charles Saussy

To whom this may concern, I have been scuba diving and fishing the Gulf of Mexico West and Northwest of Tampa for the last twenty years, usually once a month. In the last 5 years I've noticed more turtle skeletons than in years before. Even in 80-90' we find skeletons. I think if you really intend on protecting the turtles you must ban long line activities indefinately. It is more indescriminate than netting. There is no way anything survives hanging on a longline for hours and then being suddenly reeled from the depths. There is no reason other than greed as to why everyone commercial or recreational can't just fish with a rod and reel or a speargun. I'm not opposed to commerciial fishing, just long lines.