Comment from Dennis Machamer II

I recently attended the Public Hearing in Barnegat, NJ on March 22, 2011. I would like to post my below comment. I am a recreational bluefin tuna fisherman, neither a headboat nor charter boat captain, but I do purchase a permit every year for my private vessel. I DO NOT believe that it is appropriate for the angling category and general catergory to take the hit for the dead discard of the PLL category. The money that is generated for the economy of the US that is directly effected by this fishery is one that can not take a hit due to the proposed reduction. The money I spend yearly on fishing for bluefin tuna would be significantly decreased by a decrease in quota, and that does not strictly fall on the tackle/fishing related industry. In addition to fishing on my own vessel this year I planned a two day charter out of Gloucester MA and booked three days in a hotel, and in addition would be providing revenue to local business such as restuarants, gift shops, etc. If this proposed change goes into affect it might affect my future decisions to book trips like this or spend money in the fashion that I currently do in relation to bluefin tuna fishing. In addition I do not believe it is ok to punish the categories that did not go over their quota when others did. In the past when the angling category exceeded their quota it was met with increased regulation to decrease the risk of going over the quota and it worked. By simply placing the blame where it does not belong is not correcting the problem, but simply putting a band-aid on the issue at hand with the dead discard of the PLL. Also, at the beginning of the meeting it was stressed that there is a desire by NOAA to utilize the entire quota, but last season the purse seine quota had zero landings of the 18.6% of the quota. I believe this should be spread between the angling and general category. Give something back to the categories that give so much to not only the economy. Thank You.