Comment from Mike Merrifield

Golden Tilefish quota is still too low. I do not believe an adequate stock assessment has been done on the stock in the entire Southeast region. Increasing the quota is a step in the right direction but largely happened because of CPUE data presented by the fishery that indicated the stock in Florida was very healthy. Recreational quota went from 3% of the ACL to 25%. This is encouraging additional participation in a fishery the council has been trying to prevent new participation in. The current amendment still does not solve the main reason the amendment was created for in the first place: to reduce participation so the season does not end in such a short period of time. The short seasons are not the best use of this resource - too many pounds hit the dock in too short a period of time - the resource value is deminished.