I do not support this petition as it will cause economic hardship for commercial crabbers and is not Based in reality 

I do not support this petition 

Thank you. There is no reason to kill turtles while crabbing. 

This is ridiculous and I do not support this at all it will cause economic strains on our industry.

This is a horrible idea.  Waterman do not need any more added expense

I do not support this petition 

I do not support this at all 

I don’t support this 

I do not support this petition. Crabbers already struggle to make a living.

Just no. 

This is a complete waste of money. These turtles do not go near hard crabs. Typically where you see these turtles you would not be able to catch crabs. It is a senseless regulation. 

Would cause immense harm to the blue crab fishery completely detrimental to the men and women who support their families with near shore blue crabbing I do not support this at all

I do not support petition..i am against it

Against it. I have never seen any turtles in my pots. 

Have never had one in any of our pots. 

I oppose this petition due to lack of evidence to support this claim.

I will not support this at all 

I do not support this petition it just adds cost to gear that already cost to much. Don't catch any turtles in the crab pots I've ever worked.souds like someone trying to sell something. They are the ones that probably came up with this nonsense

I am not in favor of this. Stop adding more costly regulations. 

There is no evidence in Maryland that diamondback turtles have rebounded after extruders were enforced. Which should be enough evidence for Virginia. 

I am opposed to this recommendation for it will put an even further restriction on commercial crabbing which is regulated to death at this point. The device would severely reduce the catch of blue crabs and with license restrictions, many would not be able to sustain the fishery. While I understand the importance of protecting terrapins, this method would create a negative impact on the crabbing industry that far outweighs the positive impacts on the terrapins. Please vote no on this recommendation. 

I do not support 

Totally do not support this.

Not based in reality would be detrimental to the fishery

We oppose this

I do not support this.

I have never caught a turtle in my crabpots.

I do not support this petition.

I am against this. It will cost waterman more money. 90 percent of crabs will not want to crawl over the bottom of the turtle excluder . Therefore they will claim there is a decline in crabs .And make even more cuts to finish putting the crabbers out of business! . Not to mention they will fall out of the funnel and be lost . And the river bottom will be full of them for other creatures to get stuck in .  We need to focus on catching crab something that feeds American people. And don’t worry about the turtle.   I guess whoever invented these things is pushing this to line there pockets with sales.  I bet there not a crabber !!  Thanks that’s all folks. 

A one time $750,000 payment to the catchers, for their troubles, plus free commission approved crab pots, equaling their total license amount each year. Any new catchers should also get the yearly allotment of approved crab pots/traps, forever... ?? Perpetually free crabpots from the organization, even. Turtle excluders included ??

If any of that is approved. 

A foolish endeavor, do not support this proposal

I do not support the  turtle excluder requirement.

This is one of the worst things you can do to a crab pot

I do not support this 

I am against this petition

I am against this petition

I do not support this

I do not support this

I am against this petition

I do not support this

I do not support this

no turtle excluders

no turtle excluders

I do not support this 

I do not support this petition

I am against placing turtle excluders in crab pots. They are completely unnecessary. There is little if any scientific data proving that there is an issue with turtles being killed or captured as by catch in commercial crab pots. Commercial fishermen are subjected to many regulations that increase the cost of doing business. This would further increase the cost of doing business with increased supply costs for the excluders as well as increased labor costs to install them. This puts an economic hardship on everyone in an already economically strained industry. All the while with little, to no evidence if they work or if they are necessary. The overwhelming majority of commercial crab pots are set in areas that turtles do not inhabit, therefore making this additional regulation pointless as far as the purpose of having them installed to save turtles.

I am speaking for a large number of watermen in the Northern Neck of Virginia. We do not support this petition! The use of turtle excluders as described will only exclude Blue Crabs from the pots, and will be a serious hardship for watermen. We do not see turtles in our pots, so we don't need these excluders to restrict Blue Crabs from being harvested. Thank you.

no turtle excluder needed

I don't support this petition 

Not needed. 

Turtle excluders are pointless and hurts watermen I don’t support this