US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke decided that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has “overstepped the bounds of propriety and fairness” and will thus return USD 649,527 in fishery enforcement penalties to 11 individuals or businesses.
The move follows years of complaints from fishers, businesses and elected officials alleging that NOAA’s practices are unfairly harsh.
Locke acted on 30 problematic cases reviewed by the Special Master, Judge Charles Swartwood III. “Enforcement has to be fair, uniform and consistent. I accepted all of the Special Master's recommendations in every instance where I have authority to do so under Magnuson-Stevens Act, and in some cases I went beyond the Special Master’s recommendation,” said Locke.
Read the complete story from FIS World News.