Comment from RAY THORNTON

April 12, 2010 RE: King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel Regarding the ITQ, I am opposed. Historical King Mackerel fishery was present in Naples in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. During these years you could not fish in Key West for King Mackerel. The Keys West trollers would have burned your boat. It was in the late 70’s that the King fishermen began fishing with nets in Key West. When the fishery was limited to zones, many fishermen were forced out. The zoning has caused many families income loss and hardships. For most, there has been little recovery from the zoning and the 1995 net ban. With the zones implemented, came more problems. The starting date of January 16 opened up a private fishery for boats out of Key West and Marathon, as it was too far south and too far offshore for the smaller boats that had fished prior to zoning. The quota was filled before the fish migrated north causing boats that had fished Kingfish in the past to be left out. If we have to have ITQ , then the fishery should be divided equally among all active permit holders. Under the current program, fish totals are not working out. I recommend a change of maximum daily limits to 15,000 with severe penalties for overages. Open season should be changed to November 15 thru December 31 and closed season from January 1 to February 15. Then February 16 to fulfillment of quotation; and using nets no deeper than 200 mesh deep. The Spanish Mackerel Fishery in the Gulf is not broken. Don’t fix it. There is a small window to fix from 10 miles out from Cape Romano to the Florida Bay December to April. The fish are usually only present for approximately 60 days. In this time frame, we never catch the quota. Why Change it? I you use the dates that have been suggested in the Bulletin to make new quotas, you will reward people that have fished illegally and hurt the honest people like myself who have fished legally all of their life. Ray Thornton Crown Royal