Thank you for providing a forum for comment on this very important petition. I live in Salisbury, Maryland. I volunteer for an environmental watershed organization. I am concerned as are the other members of my organization that not enough is known about the environmental impact of the menhaden reduction fishery in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. What do we know is that menhaden is a keystone species in the Bay. Applying the elements of this petition will be a great step forward toward establishing a better balance between the interests of the reduction fishery versus environmental issues.

Charles Stegman MD