Comment by Jan Margeson on XM12

I am writing to you in hopes that you will reauthorize the GB Fixed Gear Sector for the 2009 fishing year. We have shown that fishing under a hard TAC is beneficial to the fishermen and fish population, because we are not discarding huge quantities of fish. Under Amendment 13 , we had a daily trip limit of 1000 lbs. With gill nets, all nets must be hauled daily to produce a premium product and once you reached your limit excess fish had to be discarded . Sometimes you would catch your limit in just a few nets and it would sicken us to have to discard thousands of pounds. When we would set less gear the next day anticipating the catch to be similar, we would come up short of our daily limit because the fish had moved on. Fish are always coming and going . Working under a hard TAC gives fisherman the chance to plan ahead. It allows you to stay in business as a viable entity ,making decisions months in advance. The New England Council, environmental groups and others are aware that sectors work. This is why 17 new sectors are due out with Amendment 16 . I would urge you to reauthorize the sector as you have the last few years. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Jan Margeson, vice president Fixed Gear Sector