Richard Hirn, attorney for the NOAA union, said MacDonald did not wish to comment for this story. But Hirn said it's been disappointing NOAA management allowed the employees to be made scapegoats for policies against fishermen that were passed down from the top.
The e-mails underscore the nearly palpable anger that had been building in the fishing industry for months against the policies and approach of Jane Lubchenco — a scientist appointed to head NOAA who was seen by the industry as autocratic and anti-fishing — and longstanding NOAA enforcement culture that, as cited by the Inspector General, treated often minor violations like criminal offenses, with fishermen's fines and going to a fund NOAA agents tapped for overseas travel, and NOAA prosecutors used to fund department expenses.
The earlier e-mail was sent on March 4, two days after the first of two congressional oversight hearings into the IG's findings was held at Gloucester City Hall.
Read the complete story from the Gloucester Daily Times.