Comment from Michael Stocker

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed rule 0648-BA65, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quotas and Atlantic Tuna Fisheries Management Measures. This proposed rule unfairly penalizes traditional bluefin tuna fishermen by reducing the amount of bluefin tuna they can catch, in order to allow the surface longline fleet targeting yellowfin tuna and swordfish, to continue to catch bluefin tuna indiscriminately. In this fishery, most bluefin tuna are tossed overboard, dead and wasted. Better solutions exist. Instead of reducing the catch of fishermen who use clean, targeted gears, the government should close areas with high concentrations of bluefin tuna to surface longline fishing. Closing these areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico, and supporting sustainable fishing methods and gear transitions, is a longer-term solution that provides much-needed environmental benefits and keeps traditional fishermen in business. Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on this important rule. I urge you to take swift action to implement longer-term solutions that protect bluefin tuna and traditional fishermen.