To whom it may concern,

Although I am one person, I represent generations of fishermen in my family and others. Fishing has been the backbone of what has taught myself and many others some of life's most important lessons. Respect, ration, the ability to provide, responsible harvest, bonding time with children and family, are just a few of the things that myself and many others have taken from fishing.

Beyond that, there are many others like myself that spend 100% of my vacation and entertainment budget on fishing, boating, and related expenses. If fishing were made impossible for us to do as a family this would finacially destroy the tackle shops, the boat builder, the mechanic, the real estate value, the hotel, the fuel dock, the outfitters, the charities that benefit from the fishing tournaments and on and on.....

I personally know of more than one commercial fisherman that is not going to be able to fish this season because of the new Grouper and bottom fish regulations. This is just the tip of the problem. It will get ugly and it will get ugly fast.

Please .... work with us fishermen to find true and accurate science to effectively manage these fisheries. Nobody in government cares more about the health and longevity of these stocks than the fishermen.