The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is accepting comments until Nov. 10 on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Generic Amendment 3. EFH Amendment 3 would establish additional Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), restrict fishing activities within HAPCs, and require a weak link in bottom trawl gear to protect EFH.

Here’s a comment. If bottom trawl gear—with or without a weak link—is still being allowed within an HAPC, just how hard has the Council tried to protect fish habitat before they considered further recreational closures?

Send your email comments to http://www.regulations.gov, or to 0648-AS66.NOA@noaa.gov. Include 0648-AS66-NOA in subject line. Written comments go to Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13 th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Click on www.gulfcouncil.org to request a copy of the amendment.