Comment from James Sweeney

I support protecting and restoring ocean life. Thanks to current law and regulations, our nation is on the path to end overfishing and rebuild depleted U.S. ocean fish populations. Do not weaken our regulations by creating new delays and exemptions that risk allowing overfishing, and do not make any changes to your operating definition of overfishing that would jeopardize this progress. As you consider how to optimize the “benefit to the nation” from our nation’s fisheries by improving guidance on how to determine the optimum yield of a fishery, do not let short-term economic considerations lead to overfishing and long-term harm to fish and fishermen alike. Instead, improve how you consider the value of healthy ecosystems in setting optimum yield. For example leaving more forage fish in the ocean provides food to maintain the health of ecosystems that support valuable recreational and commercial fisheries. Where multiple fish populations are caught together, please do not sacrifice the depleted ones. Though this may impact fishing on healthier populations in the short-term, in the long-term this will help maintain healthy, diverse ecosystems that will benefit all fish populations. Migratory fish like bluefin tuna are some of the most threatened in the oceans. These species deserve protection from overfishing through catch limits, regardless of other nations’ policies. Finally, please make sure all fish that die either from fishing or natural causes are accounted for in management decisions, including those caught accidentally or for scientific purposes. I ask that you only make changes to federal guidelines that would improve conservation, and continue your important work to ensure the future of fish and fishing in America’s oceans.