Comment from Edward Mortell

This proposed reduction represents a massive shift in the traditional allocations amongst the varied bluefin user groups. This shift in allocation will result in reduced bag limits, shorter regional fishing seasons, early closures, and tremendous financial losses for the recreational and commercial hand gear fisheries. This reduction in quota for the directed fleet will lead to serious economic harm to the thousands of commercial and recreational fishermen from Maine to Florida that make-up the traditional bluefin fleet. Moreover, since the agency has proposed no new rules to reduce bycatch in the PLL fleet, even higher overages could occur in 2011 and beyond, with the agency continuing to simply deduct the number off the overall quota. There is no cap on the potential level of PLL discards. The directed fishery is actually threatened by the discards from incidental fisheries. NMFS has chosen to hold only one public hearing in all of New England, an area that makes up a large part of the overall fishery only one week after the Federal Register notice! Most fishermen don’t even know the proposed rule is out! This proposed rule represents a dramatic shift in allocations and the public deserves the proper opportunity to speak up and tell the agency how they feel. I urge you to not only increase the public awareness through a longer review period, but also more meetings so that all affected may attend and voice their concerns. I thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, and hope that there will be cause to stop this unfair and unprecedented action now facing the American bluefin fisherman. Edward Mortell