From: Lloyd Wiiliams To: Fish, Marine (FWE) Subject: ENdangered RIght Whales Date: Saturday, December 12, 2020 4:13:05 PM CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear DMF, It has been brought to my attention, as a citizen concerned about the mass extinction of species we are now witnessing at ever accelerating speed, that our planet’s wonderful right whales are facing major challenges and assaults that diminish their numbers, decrease their reproductive rate, and endanger their survival. Of particular concern are fishing practices that result in wright whale deaths. Currently, there is a public push to encourage DMF to consider ropeless gear as a way to help save wright whales from extinction. Ropeless gear has a very high success rate at significantly reducing entanglement, injury and death for our right whale population. This is a concern of serious magnitude. It is hoped that DMF will recognize that human impact upon right whales and other precious marine life threatens their very survival. A world without whales would be an unimaginable tragedy. Please move decisively to protect them and insure their survival! Sincerely, Lloyd T. Williams 119 Jackson Lane Barre, MA 01005 From: [email protected] on behalf of Eric Fournier To: Fish, Marine (FWE) Subject: New Protected Species Regulations Affecting Trap and Gillnet Fishing Date: Sunday, December 13, 2020 9:57:16 AM CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Director McKiernan: As a concerned Massachusetts resident, I fear the North Atlantic right whale may go extinct in my lifetime. North Atlantic right whales are dying due to human actions. The DoMF, alongside NOAA, has the opportunity to make the necessary changes to save this species. I am glad to see our commonwealth is taking necessary steps to ensure the protection and survival of right whales by proposing new regulations for commercial fixed gear fisheries and recreational lobster and crab trap fisheries. Some of the changes I support include: - Expanded closures for trap fisheries in all of Massachusetts waters. - A new closed season for the buoyed recreational lobster and crab trap fishery. - The DoMF retaining the ability to extend these closures based on North Atlantic right whale sightings. - A marking system that will differentiate the gear that may be lawfully used in Massachusetts from heavier gear that may be used in the offshore exclusive economic zone or Canada. I strongly encourage the DoMF to develop a plan for a full transition to ropeless technology in commercial trap fisheries as quickly and responsibly as possible. Removing vertical lines from the water is the only way to fully prevent entanglements and save this species. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on enhanced protections for the North Atlantic right whale. It is my hope that my suggestions will be considered in this process and that the DoMF continues to prioritize right whale protections. Sincerely, Eric Fournier 49 Parker St Watertown, MA 02472 From: [email protected] on behalf of Cindy Rancourt To: Fish, Marine (FWE) Subject: New Protected Species Regulations Affecting Trap and Gillnet Fishing Date: Monday, December 14, 2020 1:12:23 AM CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Director McKiernan: As a concerned Massachusetts resident, I fear the North Atlantic right whale may go extinct in my lifetime. North Atlantic right whales are dying due to human actions. The DoMF, alongside NOAA, has the opportunity to make the necessary changes to save this species. I am glad to see our commonwealth is taking necessary steps to ensure the protection and survival of right whales by proposing new regulations for commercial fixed gear fisheries and recreational lobster and crab trap fisheries. Some of the changes I support include: - Expanded closures for trap fisheries in all of Massachusetts waters. - A new closed season for the buoyed recreational lobster and crab trap fishery. - The DoMF retaining the ability to extend these closures based on North Atlantic right whale sightings. - A marking system that will differentiate the gear that may be lawfully used in Massachusetts from heavier gear that may be used in the offshore exclusive economic zone or Canada. I strongly encourage the DoMF to develop a plan for a full transition to ropeless technology in commercial trap fisheries as quickly and responsibly as possible. Removing vertical lines from the water is the only way to fully prevent entanglements and save this species. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on enhanced protections for the North Atlantic right whale. It is my hope that my suggestions will be considered in this process and that the DoMF continues to prioritize right whale protections. Sincerely, Cindy Rancourt 102 North Street Dalton, MA 01226 From: Tracy Faulkner To: Fish, Marine (FWE) Cc: Fish, Marine (FWE) Subject: Please help protect critically endangered right whales in Massachusetts waters Date: Monday, December 14, 2020 8:58:03 AM CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Director Daniel McKiernan, Massachusetts can be a leader in the fight to save the North Atlantic right whale. With less than 400 individuals remaining, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered marine animals in the world. Entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships are pushing the species towards extinction. We must take strong action today before it’s too late to save them. North Atlantic right whales migrating through the waters of the East Coast must navigate a maze of deadly vertical rope. Ropeless fishing gear can be the solution that we need to save right whales and keep fishermen on the water. A viable pathway for permitting ropeless fishing gear should be included in the new proposed regulations in order to fully address the issue of entanglement. Removing vertical buoy rope from the water and providing a permitting structure for fishermen to legally utilize 21st century technology is the only long-term solution to reduce the entanglement risk to right whales while ensuring a sustainable future for Massachusetts fishing communities. cc: Director Daniel McKiernan 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400 Boston, MA 02114 From: Stephen Mahoney To: Fish, Marine (FWE) Cc: Fish, Marine (FWE) Subject: Please help protect critically endangered right whales in Massachusetts waters Date: Monday, December 14, 2020 5:16:04 AM CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Director Daniel McKiernan, Massachusetts can be a leader in the fight to save the North Atlantic right whale. With less than 400 individuals remaining, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered marine animals in the world. Entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships are pushing the species towards extinction. We must take strong action today before it’s too late to save them. North Atlantic right whales migrating through the waters of the East Coast must navigate a maze of deadly vertical rope. Ropeless fishing gear can be the solution that we need to save right whales and keep fishermen on the water. A viable pathway for permitting ropeless fishing gear should be included in the new proposed regulations in order to fully address the issue of entanglement. Removing vertical buoy rope from the water and providing a permitting structure for fishermen to legally utilize 21st century technology is the only long-term solution to reduce the entanglement risk to right whales while ensuring a sustainable future for Massachusetts fishing communities. cc: Director Daniel McKiernan 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400 Boston, MA 02114 From: Tina Michael To: Fish, Marine (FWE) Cc: Fish, Marine (FWE) Subject: Please help protect critically endangered right whales in Massachusetts waters Date: Monday, December 14, 2020 4:06:50 AM CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Director Daniel McKiernan, Massachusetts can be a leader in the fight to save the North Atlantic right whale. With less than 400 individuals remaining, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered marine animals in the world. Entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships are pushing the species towards extinction. We must take strong action today before it’s too late to save them. North Atlantic right whales migrating through the waters of the East Coast must navigate a maze of deadly vertical rope. Ropeless fishing gear can be the solution that we need to save right whales and keep fishermen on the water. A viable pathway for permitting ropeless fishing gear should be included in the new proposed regulations in order to fully address the issue of entanglement. Removing vertical buoy rope from the water and providing a permitting structure for fishermen to legally utilize 21st century technology is the only long-term solution to reduce the entanglement risk to right whales while ensuring a sustainable future for Massachusetts fishing communities.