BOSTON – August 3, 2010 – AP – The nation's top fishery managers and commercial and small fishing operators met Tuesday to discuss the troubled fishery law enforcement system amid recent findings of mismanagement, misspending, and disproportionate fines.
The summit at a Washington hotel, broadcast on the Internet, followed months of revelations about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's law enforcement division that has ruptured relations with fishermen and prompted lawmakers to call for the resignation of NOAA head Jane Lubchenco.
Recent findings by U.S. Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser described the misspending of millions of dollars in fishing fines and the appearance of excessive fines levied against Northeast fishermen, who have long complained of unfair treatment. Zinser also said the head of the law enforcement division, Dale Jones, wrongly ordered dozens of files shredded during his investigation.
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