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New Jersey fisheries prosecutions show NOAA still has its teeth |
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Federal criminal charges against Maine fishermen accused of illegally
harvesting scallops off New Jersey are the latest in a series of
prosecutions — a sharp departure from the government’s usual practice of
seeking civil penalties for captains who violate fishing rules.
The cases reflect a drive by the Justice Department to prosecute more environmental crimes — an objective outlined last summer by Ignacia S. Moreno, the assistant attorney general for the department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Paul J. Fishman, U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Read the complete story from The Asbury Park Press
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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.
