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I really hope you will reconsider this. With the amount of
businesses who suffered and the changes the sportfishing/whale
watching industry had to do to stay in Covid compliance, this would
be devastating. I can't imagine you would want to push such an
economic burden onto small independent mostly family run
operations. These aren't the large multi national corporations that
make California a great place to live and work. These are the
epitome of working class blue collar extremely hardworking folk.
The cost alone to upgrade boats and the associated costs put on to
anglers would discourage and push away new and dedicated anglers as
well as force landings to lay off workers and possibly close. As it
stands last year there was an 11% increase in fishing licenses.
Making it more expensive for the sportfishing fleet would only
discourage and dissuade people from enjoying the most unique
fishery in the world. I appreciate what you are trying to
accomplish with cleaner air, but I find it hard to believe that
diesel marine engines are going to be the big change. Why not
target other industries that don't operate on razor thin margins as
it is? Also have a larger carbon footprint.  I feel like forcing
these new regulations will cripple an already hurting industry.
Surely cleaner air can be achieved but not on the back of the
fishing industry. 

Additionally I don't think there is even a tier V engine that has
been developed yet it is my understanding you would require a tier
V motor to be installed in these vessels. How does that make sense.
These fishing vessels have year over year made changes to better
the air quality and meet requirements. However the horsepower
needed for them to operate safely and efficiently cannot be
achieved with your new mandate. Please for everyone's sake don't
push this and work with them commercial fishing industry before you
destroy it. 

Thank you,

Chris Grosky