I one hundred percent support this petition. I agree with every one of the recommendations, especially the precautionary closure to the Menhaden harvest, at least until further studies can be done as to the relationship to the return of the large Rockfish this past December! I may not be a scientist, but I have fished the bay for over 40 years and I, nor any of my friends haven't seen the great Rockfish run that we just experienced in at least a decade! I'm going to make the argument that the bay hasn't had the large amount of bait (Menhaden) that we are currently experiencing for over a decade as well. Coincidence, I don't think so! It is imperatve that we keep the Menhaden levels up in the Bay, if we expect those big rockfish to return in the volumes that we just experienced. Obviously, everyone is concerned with the "Young of the Year" rockfish statistics, but another way to improve on the Young of the Year totals is to have many more of these trophy rockfish spawning in the chesapeake. It's obvoius that the best way to lure them into the bay is by having plenty for them to eat in the bay. It is imperative that we reduce the harvesting of those precious bait fish (Menhaden).