Comment from Mike Russo

April 18, 2011 Patricia Kurkul, Regional Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 RE: Comments on Skate Framework 1 Proposed Rule (RIN 0648-BA91) Dear Administrator Kurkul, I write to you today to provide comment on the Proposed Rule for Skate Framework 1. I would specifically like to express my strong opposition to NMFS’ “intention to disapprove the proposed change to the incidental skate wing possession limit.” The skate resource is rebuilt. The SSC indicates this, the trawl survey indicates this, and NMFS scientists indicate this. The fishing industry shouldn’t be cut back and restricted just because the existing “system” can’t process this data fast enough. By disapproving the 1,250 lb incidental limit and maintaining the 500 lbs incidental limit, we will end up discarding a huge amount of skates only to “discover” in a year or two (or however long it takes NMFS to process the current skate data) that we could’ve kept them all along. But by then it will be too late. We will have wasted a perfectly healthy resource and will have unnecessarily lost this source of stable revenue. We have the “best available science;” now, let’s use it. I would strongly request that you approve the Framework as the Council recommended (specifically including the 1,250 lb incidental limit). Thank you, Mike Russo President, GB Cod Fixed Gear Sector Inc. f/v Gulf Venture