Comment from Benjamin Currin

Sir/Madam: I am strongly opposed to transferring recreational quota to the commercial sector. Recreational anglers, unlike the commercial sector, does not set a goal of harvesting their entire allocation. Instead, many if not most of us, desire to leave a portion of that quota in the water each year to allow for growth and population enhancement. Additionally, when quota is transferred to the commercial sector, NC commercial fishermen are often the receipients and harvest bluefish in the winter when large mature fish are found off our coast. These are exactly the fish that recreational anglers would like to leave in the water- not have harvested and sold for pennies a pound. That is a pure waste. Most currently used fishery population models- surplus production models- are designed to maximize the poundage of fish harvested (this benefits the commercial sector) at the sacrifice of having larger numbers of large fish in the population. Large numbers of large fish are what makes for desirable recreational fisheries. Allowing the commercial sector additional harvest of recreational quota- especially large mature fish- is completely antithetical. Please end the provision that allows transfer of ANY recreational quota to the commercial sector. It simply is unfair and contrary to the goals of a recreational fishery. Thank you for considering my Comments, B. M. Currin