Already forced to defend itself from charges of uneven enforcement of the rules, NOAA has another disaster on its hands.

Its director of law enforcement, Dale Jones, is reported to have ordered the shredding of files in his office's keeping after staff from the U.S. Inspector General's Office told him that they were reviewing allegations that NOAA had been heavy-handed and unfair in levying fines and penalties against New England fishermen for alleged violation of regulations.

The new allegations have further undermined NOAA's standing in the eyes of the fishing industry and have done further harm to an agency already under fire.

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