Comment from Carlton Ward

Document ID: NOAA-NMFS-2009-0072-0009
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration
Received Date: May 11 2009, at 04:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Date Posted: June 4 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: May 1 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: June 1 2009, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 80988d99
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This is comment on Rule

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Gulf Reef Fish Longline Restriction

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Please finalize the Emergency Closure of the Bottom Longline Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico to protect sea turtles from capture and drowning. The Emergency Closure should remain in place for the full five months as proposed. I also urge you to extend it for another five months as allowed by law. Under no circumstances should this fishery be re-opened until a full biological review is completed as required under the Endangered Species Act - and until measures to protect sea turtles from drowning on longlines are required. The permanent closure of the fishery should be given full consideration given that hundreds of rare and endangered sea turtles are caught and killed every year. Carlton Ward