Comment from Greg Mayer

The proposed quota for the 2013 season seems reasonable, based on current stock status and landings reports. I would like to refer to the previous comment posted here: NO PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO CATCH ANY SWORDFISH. THEIR NUMBERS ARE TO THE POINT OF EXTINCTION. THEY ARE NOT "COMMERCIAL" AT ALL. IN FACT MANY RESTAURANTS WITH CLEAR THINKING CHEFS DO NOT SERVE SWORDFISH AT ALL ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE COGNIZANT OF THE SAD STATE OF DEPLATION OF THIS FISH THAN NOAA APPEARS TO BE. NOAA IS A PIMP FOR COMMERCIAL FISH PROFITEERS AND SEEMS TO WANT TO ENABLE ITSELF TO WIPE OUT ALL FISH SPECIES WITH LAX, NEGLIGENT MANAGEMENT. NOAA'S ALLEGED SCIENCE IS JUNK SCIENCE TAKEN FROM TEH LYING MOUTNS OF COMMERCIAL FISH PROFITEERS. THAT SPECIS IS OWNED BY 325 MILLION AMERICANS. WE WANT THE QUOTA SET AT ZERO FOR A FEW YEARS - SAY 5 YEARS. WE DONT WANT ANY OF THEM TOUCHED BY ANY FISHERMAN OF ANY KIND, NEITHER REC OR COMMERCIAL PROFITEERS. THIS WIPING OUT OF FISH STOCKS IS DEPRAVED. ITS GOVT GONE MAD INTO PIMPING. Sadly, this type of comment seems to be sentiment of many who view the oceans as being ruined by commercial fishermen. As a commercial fisherman, I take affront with comments of this nature. Seafood is harvested by a group of hard working men and women who work long hours under difficult conditions in order to provide a living for their families and support their communities. Swordfish stocks have rebounded and are at a level which will support a sustainable fishery. Minimum size limits, and the implementation of circle hooks in the fishery have led to rebuilding of the stock, and helps keep our watermen working. The US Fleet has abided by the guidelines proposed by ICCAAT, and has proven that the current quota can provide a viable fishery for its participants,