Comment from Michael McPhaden

The NOAA Pacific Marine Environment Lab (PMEL) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) project fully supports NOAA's planned implementation of the Resolution Prohibiting Fishing on Data Buoys (C-11-03) in the IATTC Convention Area. The eastern tropical Pacific Ocean TAO data buoys experience the highest amount of damage due to fishing activity when compared to all other sites in the array. Loss of critical TAO data results in decreased ability to detect and forecast El Nino and La Nina, which degrades the accuracy of advisories issued for the protection of life and property. In addition, millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted on repairs or replacements to moorings damaged or lost by fishing activity. The benefits of this resolution to the nation in terms of public health and safety far outweigh any inconvenience resulting from the restriction of fishing activity around these crucial environmental measurement platforms.