Comment from Lewsi MacCarter

SUMMARY: This process is a part of an overall process that constitutes a taking in that fishermen are being forced into selling by excessive capricious regulation. It needs to be treated to eminent domain. Such an action should only relate to the gear requirements of the vessel and then only as and act of eminent domain with adequate compensation. Specifically, vessels which cannot convert away from dragging on the bottom (and perhaps long net operators) should be bought out. This must take into account that the buying out of small entity owned fishing boats will end careers and put many of the owners and workers permanently out of the workforce as well as out of the market place. Cost recovery should include either tax payers, or all entities marketing fish in the US or its territories. The attachment clarifies these assertions.