SavingSeaFood - Judge Swartwood delivers report to Commerce Secretary; Privacy Review underway before release

News

Judge Swartwood delivers report to Commerce Secretary; Privacy Review underway before release

The potentially explosive report by a special master on NOAA fisheries law enforcement excesses and possible miscarriages of justice against the industry by agents and lawyers in the Northeast Regional office here in Gloucester, has been delivered to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Researched and written by Charles B. Swartwood III, a retired federal judge and chairman of the Massachusetts Ethics Commission, the report on at least 31 cases cited as warranting additional attention by the Commerce Department inspector general, was delivered on Friday.

It will be released to the public after possible redactions based on the agency's interpretation of the Privacy Act, a spokeswoman for Locke confirmed Monday.

""We will make the Special Master's reports public in a manner consistent with the Privacy Act's legal constraints," Shannon Gilson told the Times in January.

In an a-mail message Monday, she affirmed the policy contained in the statement, but Gilson gave no indication as to when Locke would make the report public.

The only case specifically confirmed as being handed off for additional investigation to Swartwood is NOAA enforcement's 10-year effort to close the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction — the only victim noted in the report by Commerce Inspector General Todd Zinser.

Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.

HASTINGS: Time to improve the Endangered Species Act

May 18, 2012 - When the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law in 1973 by President Nixon, he spoke about the importance of preserving “the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” I believe that goal is as important today as it was back then. However, after nearly 40 years, it’s time to take a fresh, honest look at the law and consider whether there are ways it could be improved to do a better job of protecting and recovering species.

More Opinion >