Comment from Krista Pearson

See attached file(s) How can you rule on on issue so critical to the livelihood of shrimpers without additional research in light of the attached sea turtle stranding figures? According to the attached article, the number of sea turtle strandings has skyrocketed from 2009 thru 2011. In 2009 there were 73 strandings but in 2010 the number was 594. No one from the the National Marine Fisheries Service even questions this phenomenon? Due to the BP oil spill, most shrimpers were lucky to have shrimped for a total of three weeks in the 2010 year. There is no consideration that the strandings are due to the oil spilled into the Gulf and the dispersants utilized to attempt a clean-up?? Most of these shrimpers are struggling with the lack of first white shrimp in the 2011 season and now brown shrimp in this 2012 season, yet NMFS chose to hold public meetings during the brown season. Coincidental the deadline for submitting comments is the same day as the close of a majority of the shrimping zones for the Louisiana in-shore waters!!!!!