I cut this form letter from another board. Please send a letter so the politicians know we are aware. It may feel like an effort in futility but if we stand by and say nothing, the commercial lobbyists will always win and our children won’t have a chance to know this awesome sport.
-D

Everyone should read this and cut and paste the letter. Make your voice heard!

Please take time to copy this letter, edit with your own words if you like, but be sure to send it in to make your voice count.

Thanks.

Capt. Lindsay Fuller

April 3, 2007

Mr. Michael Clark
Highly Migratory Species (F/SF1)
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

RE: Comments on EFP Application


Dear Mr. Clark:

I respectfully submit my opposition to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issuing exempted fishing permits to approximately 13 pelagic longline vessels allowing them to fish in closed areas. These permits are intended to increase US swordfish landings by allowing longline vessels to set gear in the closed areas of East Florida Coast and Charleston Bump. As a recreational angler and charter boat owner, I am outraged by this attempt to circumvent proven and needed conservation measures through the guise of science.

The original purpose for closing the East Florida Coast and Charleston Bump areas was to reduce excessive bycatch of protected species, tuna, and juvenile swordfish. Through direct observation, these areas were considered critical habitat for these species and the presence of longline gear and associated bycatch was having negative impacts on these species including white and blue marlin which drive the recreational HMS fishery. Once closed to the deployment of pelagic longline gear, both areas were instrumental in the tremendous recovery of swordfish and other recreationally important species and spurring a resurgence of interest in this historically recreational fishery. The entire south Atlantic Coast has experienced a great economic benefit with the return of swordfish, marlin and tuna. Allowing pelagic longline gear into these areas would reverse all that we have gained and would have serious and lasting impacts on marine resources and the recreational fishing community along the entire Atlantic Coast.

As a concerned saltwater angler, I am strongly opposed to issuing exempted fishing permits for pelagic longline vessel to fish in closed areas. The Charleston Bump and the East Florida Coast are essential in sustaining the recovery of North Atlantic swordfish and marlins. If exempted fishing permits are issued, I believe NMFS would be encouraging fishing pressure on the most vulnerable size class of the stock, the young, pre-spawn fish and precipitate bycatch on white and blue marlin. Even with the swordfish stock being nearly rebuilt, conservation and stewardship of the resource can not be abandoned. Please protect our highly migratory species and the recreational fishing community by opposing exempted fishing permits for pelagic longlines in existing closed areas.

Respectfully submitted,


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Just to bring this back to the top. I received an email from The Billfish Foundation that includes their reply to the NMFS. Take time to copy and paste the letter Capt Nemo posted and mail it to the NMFS to show your support in keeping these areas closed to longliners.

From TBF letter...
"Below you will find comments submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) in response to a request from the Blue Water Fishermen’s Association for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP). If approved, this exemption would allow 13 longline vessels to fish an area now closed to longlining in federal waters 40 miles north of Fort Pierce (~ 280 N. Latitude) and east of the axis of the Gulf Stream, continuing northward and east to the 100 fathom contour and the northern boundary of the Charleston Bump closed area ( http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breaking_news.htm ).



TBF opposes the issuance of such an EFP as the intent of the permit is not scientific or experimental but is solely to allow longlines to fish in the closed area. The area closures to this gear were implemented to reduce the bycatch and mortality of juvenile swordfish, white and blue marlin and sailfish and they have succeeded at that goal. The NMFS recently allowed multi-hook bouy gear into these areas and there has yet to be an evaluation of the impacts and extent of commercial catch this gear will afford the industry. The closures have achieved the bycatch reduction goals and have created a dynamic and economically strong recreational swordfish fishery in an area previously devastated by commercial overfishing. "