Comment from Eric schmitt

: Atlantic Shark Management This proposed rule will present many changes to the way sharks are harvested in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition this rule will do a lot to prevent “shark finning” which is depleting shark populations around the world. This rule will also establish a system that would close the season for harvesting certain shark species once the limit has been reached. Sharks are an extremely important apex predator, as well as a key factor in managing fish populations. In the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) attempts to stop shark finning the agency has proposed the following rules. Requiring the ratio between wet fins and dressed carcasses weights at landing not exceed five percent (Federal Register, pg. 57236). In my opinion this would prevent “shark finners” from throwing dead carcasses overboard while keeping their fins. The NMFS also proposed species specific quotas which would establish twenty individual shark quotas, and could open and close at different times (Federal Register, pg. 57237). This is very reasonable and could help prevent the overharvesting of one species over another. Sharks can be caught in different areas using different methods, and would allow year long fishing for specific species. This would place a limit on the harvesting of species that are easier to catch than others.