(2) THE NEW ENGLAND FISHING FLEET HAS ALREADY BEEN REDUCED 90% FROM ITS FORMER CAPACITY.

(3) ALL FISH SPECIES ARE REBOUNDING SATISFACTORY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CODFISH. CODFISH SEEMS TO BE RECOVERING AT A SLOWER RATE. THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE UNCLEAR. THE COMMERCIAL FISHING FLEET HAS STRICT LIMITS IN PLACE ON COD LANDINGS. CODFISH RANGES OVER A VAST SECTION OF THE GLOBE AND WILL NEVER BECOME EXTINCT, AND WILL REBOUND WITH TIME.

(4) IT IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THE CODFISH ABSENCE HAS ACCELERATED THE RECOVERY OF OTHER SPECIES BECAUSE OF CODFISH APPETITE FOR ANYTHING EDIBLE. ANYBODY THAT HAS FISHED CODFISH CAN ATTEST TO THE RANGE OF FOOD THAT MAY BE FOUND IN A COD'S LARGE BELLY. THE LAST FEW YEARS BANNER REDUCTION OF SCALLOPS, HERRING, LOBSTER AND HADDOCK MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM A LOW COD BIOMASS AND NOT ONLY REDUCED FISHING ACTIVITIES.

(5) THE NUMBER OF FISHING VESSELS MAKES A BIG DIFFRENCE FOR INDEPENDENT LANDBASED SUPPORT BUSINESSES.

(6) LEASING AND CONSOLIDATION COULD INCREASE EFFORT AND DECREASE JOBS IN ALL SECTORS.

(7) THE NORTHEAST TRAWLER FLEET USES THE LARGEST COD END MESH SIZE IN THE WORLD (6.5") BETWEEN INTERCEPTS.

(8) CANADA ON THE OTHER HAND CAN FISH FOR THE SAME FISH JUST ACCROSS THE LINE WITH ONLY 6" MESH SIZE. CANADA EXPORTS 75% OF THEIR CATCHES TO THE U.S., DROPPING OUR EXVESSEL PRICES FOR FISH ON THE MARKET. THIS PRACTICE ALSO HAVE A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON HOW MUCH FISH WE HAVE TO LAND TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE.

(9) MOST OF THE REGULATED SPECIES HAVE DOUBLED, TRIPLED, QUADRUPLED AND EVEN EXPLODED IN BIOMASS ABUNDANCE IN LESS THAN A DECADE AND WITH PRE- AMENDMENT 13 EFFORT.

(10) THE PEW OCEANS COMMISSION, OCEANA, AND CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION USES DATA GATHERED WHEN THE FISHERIES WERE AT THEIR LOWEST POINT (MID-1990'S)AS A BASIS FOR ALL THEIR LAWSUITS AND PUBLIC FED DOOMSDAY STATISTICS IN THEIR QUEST OF ELIMINATING ALL FISHERIES EXCEPT RECREATIONAL.

(11) BECAUSE OF THEIR VAST FUNDING, THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CAN AFFORD TO USE ALL THE MAIN STREAM NEWS MEDIA TO CONVEY THEIR MESSAGES TO THE PUBLIC.

(12) BECAUSE OF THE NEWS MEDIA HUNGER FOR CRISIS AND CONTROVERSIAL STORIES, DOOM AND GLOOM NEWS ABOUT THE FISHING INDUSTY WILL GRAB THE HEADLINES FASTER AND MORE OFTEN THAN POSITIVE. PEOPLE READ AND BELIEVE THE "IN YOUR FACE" BAD NEWS WHILE POSITIVE STORIES ABOUT FISHING WILL BE BURIED IN THE BACK OF THE PAPER SOMEWHERE AND OVERLOOKED. IF A POSITIVE STORY HAPPENS TO BE SHOWN ON TV, COMMENTS FROM SOME ENVIROMENTAL GROUP ARE SURE TO BE INCLUDED TO ARGUE THE POINTS TO JUSTIFY THEIR POSITION.

(13) THE CONTINUING SCARE OF POSSIBLE HARMFUL EFFECTS FROM EATING FISH BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE MERCURY CONTENT IS NOT WARRANTED. MOST BOTTOM DWELLING FISH CONTAINS ONLY TRACE AMOUNTS, TOO LITTLE TO OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS FROM EATING FISH.

(14) TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FEED USED TO RAISE FISH IN AQUAFARMS. AT LEAST SOME OF THE FEED IS MADE FROM MEAT BYPRODUCTS, ALL FEED IS FORTIFIED WITH ANTIBIOTICS TO KEEP GROWING FISH HEALTHY AND IT TAKES 3 POUNDS OF FEED TO RAISE ONE POUND OF FISH. ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT MAD COW OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS FROM FOODCHAIN-RELATED PRACTICES??

(15) THERE ARE 1500 MULTI-SPECIE PERMITS OUTSTANDING. OF THESE 41,000 DAYS WERE USED IN 2002. NMFS HOPE TO DROP DAYS to 28000 IN ORDER TO STAY ON COURSE TO REACH THE REBUILDING TARGET.

BUT NMFS OVERLOOK THE DAYS THE FLEET USES IN STEAMING TO AND FROM THE GROUNDS, AND THE MANY DAYS USED IN BREAKDOWNS AND FOUL WEATHER. SOME EVEN FORGET TO CALL IN TO STOP THE CLOCK; OTHERS CALL IN AND JUST LET THE CLOCK RUN TO SECURE FISHING TIME ON THEIR PERMIT. ALL OF THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE 41000 DAYS.