Dale Jones, the embattled head of NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement who was accused of document shredding during an investigation by the Commerce Department's inspector general, has been removed from his position.
Eric Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries announced that effective immediately, he is reassigning Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, to serve as the interim Director, Office of Law Enforcement.
Congressman John Tierney (D-Mass.) stated it is his "intention to formally request the public release of a new IG report on the unacceptable behavior and work practices of Mr. Jones." Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) also called for public disclosure. "If Dale Jones has been fired for shredding documents, as appears to be the case, the agency needs to disclose the circumstances surrounding Mr. Jones' dismissal and whether or not criminal charges will be filed."
Congressmen Barney Frank said "While this not a cause for celebration, it is clearly an improvement."
The Federal investigation came after Northeast fishermen complained of unfair treatment, and state legislators in Massachusetts and North Carolina asked their Federal counterparts to request a formal investigation. One of NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco's first actions after Senate confirmation was to accede to this request.
The Associated Press reported that the investigation found the appearance of arbitrary enforcement and couldn't account for how fines collected from fishermen were spent.
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) called the action "vindication to the thousands of Northeast fishermen who bore the brunt of the egregious mismanagement recently discovered within all levels of NOAA's law enforcement community." New York fish processor and exporter Marc Agger agreed with Senator Snowe's comments and added "it's great that NOAA is finally cleaning up the office of Law Enforcement. Now agents who are properly trained in natural resource management can get back to doing their job — protecting our resources. Most agents are decent and dedicated people who want to do a good job, but they have been given bad orders and worked under poor leadership for the past decade."
There is no word on whether NOAA has changed its previously stated position not to reopen cases prosecuted under Mr. Jones' leadership, however, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) has reiterated his request for "a delay in active prosecutions on NOAA enforcement actions which may be tainted by the problems within the NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement." Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) thanked NOAA "for taking action on this very serious matter" and echoed Senator Kerry's request noting that "today's announcement makes it even more imperative that the agency immediately suspend all active prosecutions against America's fisherman."
Gloucester attorney Steve Ouellette praised Senator Kerry and Congressman Jones' requests to suspend active prosecutions, but also urged that past wrongs be righted. "if a system has been exposed as being questionable — if not corrupt — you have to ask whether adjudications made under that system were fair. It is not unusual for an agency to say 'were not going to look backward', but aggrieved U.S. citizens will certainly find it disappointing if their government does not act to remedy harms they've caused."
New Bedford attorney Pamela Lafreniere also had praise for Senator Kerry and Congressman Jones' requests on current prosecutions, and joined Attorney Ouellete in urging a reopening of past cases. "Sometimes we must look back to move forward," said Attorney Lafreneire. She continued, "As U.S. Citizens, New Bedford fishermen should have the right to address their past grievances and be entitled to redress for the government's wrongdoings." She also praised Massachusetts state representative Anne Margaret Ferrante, whose efforts in February 2009 led to the initial request from Massachusetts state legislators to their Federal counterparts that an investigation be opened.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS:
Read Mr. Schwaab's statement here:
SavingSeaFood – Dale Jones Removed as Head of NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement
Read Senator Kerry's statement here:
SavingSeaFood – Senator Kerry comments on Dale Jones removal
Read Congressmen Frank and Tierney's Statement here:
SavingSeaFood – Congressmen Frank and Tierney Applaud Removal of Dale Jones as Director of NOAA Law Enforcement
Read Senator Snowe's Statement here:
SavingSeaFood – Snowe Statement on NOAA's Decision to Appoint New Interim Director at the Office of Law Enforcement
Read press accounts here:
New Bedford Standard Times – NOAA enforcement chief accused of shredding documents removed from post
Gloucester Times – NOAA LAW ENFORCEMENT CHIEF SACKED
Associated Press – Feds' top fisheries cop fired after inquiry spurred by Northeast fishermen