FEDS WANT TO PERMIT COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS TO FISH IN CLOSED AREAS!

 

GENERAL PUBLIC GIVEN ONLY SEVEN DAYS TO COMMENT!

 

E-MAILS OPPOSING FEDERAL PROPOSAL ARE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!

 

1. WHAT TO DO:  All CCA Florida Chapter and other Grassroots Alert members should immediately contact their members and get them to e-mail the National Marine Fisheries Service and urge them to:

 

REJECT THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS TO FISH IN AREAS CLOSED TO LONGLINING.

 

            SEND YOUR STRONG OBJECTIONS TO:

Heather Stirratt

HMS Management Division:  F/SF1

Office of Sustainable Fisheries

National Marine Fisheries Service

E-mail comments to: ID032805A@noaa.gov  - include in the subject line I.D. 032805A

Faxed comments can be sent to: (310) 713-1917
           

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Gulf Stream off of Florida ’s East coast and the DeSoto Canyon area off of the Florida Panhandle have been closed to commercial swordfish longlining for several years. The longlining ban has resulted in a dramatic recovery and increased abundance of sailfish, swordfish, dolphin and wahoo in these areas. Putting six commercial longline boats into these protected areas under the guise of “research” to reduce longline by-kill is unwarranted, unnecessary, and bad public policy.

 

Furthermore, providing the general public only seven days notice and comment time on such an objectionable proposal is simply offensive.

 

The commercial longliners and the National Marine Fisheries Service have virtually the entire Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to conduct the so called by-catch research – THEY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO LONGLINE IN THE CLOSED AREAS!

 

This proposal looks more like a special deal for six longliners to fish in closed areas than any legitimate research.

 

It appears that the National Marine Fisheries Service is going to give the longliners the permits. We have to object strongly – NOW – to get them to stop.

 

ACT NOW!  REMEMBER – NMFS HAS DECIDED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ONLY A FEW DAYS TO COMMENT!

 

SEND YOUR E-MAIL OPPOSING THE LONGLINE DEAL NO LATER THAN 5 P.M. , MONDAY – APRIL 11!

 

TELL THEM NO LONGLINING IN THE CLOSED AREA!

 

 

This Alert Prepared by: Ted Forsgren

                                                Executive Director

                                                CCA Florida

                                                (850) 224-3474

 

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