AUDIO: Listen to Sec'y Locke and Admn. Lubchenco's press conference on the Swartwood Report
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Feds told to return nearly $650k to fishermen
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The U.S. Commerce Secretary has ordered his agency to return almost $650,000 from 11 cases against commercial fishermen in the Northeast involving "excessive" fines and "selective enforcement" that were levied against them by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement.
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Fishermen receive apology, almost $650,000 in returned fines from feds
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Acknowledging that some federal fish police “overstepped the bounds of propriety and fairness”, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is returning almost $650,000 in fines to 11 fishermen or businesses, the majority in the Northeast.
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Some fishing fines returned after investigation
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BOSTON -- The U.S. Commerce Secretary has ordered nearly $650,000 in unjust fines returned to Northeast fishermen, while the nation's ocean's chief apologized to the group and said the move marks a turning point in their tense relationship.
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Commerce Secretary Gary Locke orders fishery enforcement penalties returned to 11 fishermen and businesses; accepts all of the Special Master's recommendations in his authority
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May 17, 2011 - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced today that $649,527 in
fisheries enforcement penalties will be returned to 11 individuals or
businesses after an independent review of their cases concluded the NOAA
enforcement program had in some instances “overstepped the bounds of
propriety and fairness.” In his decision memo
issued today, Secretary Locke acted on 30 cases reviewed by the Special
Master, Judge Charles Swartwood III, accepting all of his
recommendations that the law allows and taking additional actions in
several cases. Secretary Locke appointed Judge Swartwood to conduct the
independent review of cases identified by the Department of Commerce’s
Inspector General as problematic. The individuals and businesses will
receive their remittances within 30 days of receipt of payment
information.
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